This is the first of a two-part column. The second part will appear Monday. For the third time, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals cautioned lawyers investigating medical malpractice cases to check the Public Health Service’s database of healthcare organizations that receive federal funding — because staff at the listed groups “may be deemed employees of the Public Health Service” who are covered under the Federal Tort Claims Act. The court repeated its warning in Dominique Woodson’s appeal …