205.379.  Authority to employ counsel granted — counsel, how paid. — 1.  Notwithstanding the provisions of any of the sections of chapter 56, the board of trustees of a county hospital organized and existing pursuant to the provisions of sections 205.160 through 205.378, may employ and use legal counsel, other than the prosecuting or circuit attorney or the county counselor, to represent such hospital when in the exercise of its sole discretion the board of trustees determines that such special counsel is necessary to properly protect the hospital's interests.

  2.  Legal counsel so employed shall be paid out of the hospital fund in the manner provided in subsection 4 of section 205.190.