Code of the District of Columbia

§ 5–653. Presumption as to disability or death from cancer.

(a) A member shall be presumed to have a performance-of-duty injury or illness that is covered by this subchapter and Chapter 7 of this title, unless such presumption is overcome by a preponderance of evidence to the contrary or the member is disqualified from the presumption pursuant to § 5-655, if:

(1) The member has been diagnosed with leukemia or breast, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, rectal, testicular, or respiratory cancer, and that member has been in contact with or exposed to a toxic substance while in the line of duty that is associated with an increased risk of leukemia or cancer;

(2) The member has completed at least 10 years of service with the Department;

(3) The leukemia or cancer results in the members' inability to perform the full range of duties or in death;

(4) The member has undergone a pre-employment physical examination and the member was found, at the time of the examination, to be free of the performance-of-duty injury or illness underlying the presumption provided for in this subsection; and

(5) The member, upon request of the Director, submits to a physical examination conducted by physicians selected by the Director.

(b) An EMS employee shall be presumed to have an occupational disease suffered in the line of duty that is covered by Chapter 6 of Title 1, unless such presumption is overcome by a preponderance of evidence to the contrary or the member is disqualified from the presumption pursuant to § 5-655, if:

(1) The EMS employee has been diagnosed with leukemia or breast, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, rectal, testicular, or respiratory cancer, and that EMS employee has been in contact with or exposed to a toxic substance while in the line of duty that is associated with an increased risk of leukemia or cancer;

(2) The EMS employee has completed at least 10 years of service with the Department;

(3) The leukemia or cancer results in the EMS employee's injury, as defined by § 1-623.01(5), or in death;

(4) The EMS employee has undergone a pre-employment physical examination and the EMS employee was found, at the time of the examination, to be free of the occupational disease underlying the presumption provided for in this subsection; and

(5) The EMS employee, upon request of the Director, submits to a physical examination conducted by physicians selected by the Director.