Title 25IndiansRelease 119-73

§1680u Traditional health care practices

Title 25 › Chapter CHAPTER 18— - INDIAN HEALTH CARE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER VI— - MISCELLANEOUS › § 1680u

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary can support traditional health care practices when they follow the Service’s rules for giving care, promoting health, and preventing disease. The United States is not responsible if a patient is harmed, injured, or dies from those practices provided under this chapter, but this does not change any legal duties the United States has under the Indian Self‑Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.) or under this chapter.

Full Legal Text

Title 25, §1680u

Indians — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Although the Secretary may promote traditional health care practices, consistent with the Service standards for the provision of health care, health promotion, and disease prevention under this chapter, the United States is not liable for any provision of traditional health care practices pursuant to this chapter that results in damage, injury, or death to a patient. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to alter any liability or other obligation that the United States may otherwise have under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.) 11 See References in Text note below. or this chapter.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 94–437, Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 1400, known as the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1601 of this title and Tables. The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.), referred to in text, is Pub. L. 93–638, Jan. 4, 1975, 88 Stat. 2203, which was classified principally to subchapter II (§ 450 et seq.) of chapter 14 of this title prior to editorial reclassification as chapter 46 (§ 5301 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 5301 of this title and Tables. Codification section 831 of Pub. L. 94–437 is based on section 199A of title I of S. 1790, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, as reported by the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate in Dec. 2009, which was enacted into law by section 10221(a) of Pub. L. 111–148.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

25 U.S.C. § 1680u

Title 25Indians

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73