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HR 3342 105th Congress House

Patient Safety and Health Care Whistleblower Protection Act of 1998

Official title: To prohibit discrimination or retaliation against health care workers who report unsafe conditions and practices which impact on patient care.

Introduced: May 19, 1998 See on congress.gov
Health Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCommerceConfidential communicationsCrime and Law Enforcement
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
DamagesDisciplining of employeesDiscrimination in employmentDismissal of employeesEmployee rightsEvidence (Law)Fines (Penalties)Government Operations and PoliticsGovernment paperworkGovernmental investigationsHealth care industryHealth insurance industryInjunctionsLabor and EmploymentLawLegal feesMedical personnelPatients' rightsPunitive damagesQuality of careRight of privacyWage restitutionWhistle blowing
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This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 23, 1998
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment.
Mar 20, 1998
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.
Mar 5, 1998
Referred to House Judiciary
Mar 5, 1998
Referred to the Committee on Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Mar 5, 1998
Referred to House Commerce
Mar 5, 1998
Introduced in House
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 Latest action March 23, 1998

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Patient Safety and Health Care Whistleblower Protection Act of 1998 - Prohibits retaliation or discrimination against a health care worker because the worker disclosed information, advocated for patients, or initiated, cooperated with, or participated in any governmental investigation or proceeding regarding the care, services, or conditions of a health care entity if: (1) the information is true; and (2) the information disclosed evidences a violation of a law, rule, or professional standard or relates to matters endangering patients, workers, or the public. Prohibits contracts, policies, and procedures restricting the actions for which retaliation or discrimination is prohibited. Declares that these provisions do not protect disclosures violating confidentiality law.

Prohibits disclosing the identity of the worker, subject to exception. Provides for enforcement through private civil actions and, for certain willful and repeated violations, criminal penalties. Declares that this Act does not preempt other laws and allows States to enforce laws providing equivalent or greater worker protections.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 13
All 13 Democratic 8 Independent 1
D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · May 19, 1998
LAMPSON, NICK
· Mar 26, 1998
 D
Davis, Danny K.
Illinois · Mar 12, 1998
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Mar 12, 1998
 D
Sherman, Brad
California · Mar 12, 1998
 D
Velázquez, Nydia M.
New York · Mar 12, 1998
CHRISTENSEN, DONNA
· Mar 5, 1998
 D
DeLauro, Rosa L.
Connecticut · Mar 5, 1998
KLECZKA, GERALD
· Mar 5, 1998
 D
Pelosi, Nancy
California · Mar 5, 1998
 I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Mar 5, 1998
SANDLIN, MAX
· Mar 5, 1998
 D
Smith, Adam
Washington · Mar 5, 1998
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3342: Patient Safety and Health Care Whistleblower Protection Act of 1998. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-3342/
MLA
"H.R. 3342: Patient Safety and Health Care Whistleblower Protection Act of 1998." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-3342/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3342, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-3342/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3342: Patient Safety and Health Care Whistleblower Protection Act of 1998](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-3342/)
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