The Florida House of Representatives members voted 104-6 to approve a bill that could lead to more medical malpractice lawsuits, Health News Florida reported March 27.
The bill specifically involves wrongful death lawsuits and non-economic damages for pain and suffering. According to the report, the bill would repeal part of a 1990 law that prevents people from seeking non-economic damages in certain circumstances. Current law states that people who are 25 or older cannot seek such damages in medical malpractice cases involving deaths of their parents. Parents also cannot seek damages in malpractice cases involving the deaths of their children who are 25 or older.
Supporters of the bill say that the current law has stopped family members from holding physicians and hospitals accountable for malpractice, while opponents argue that its repeal could result in increased malpractice insurance premiums.
The bill was sponsored by Reps. Dana Trabulsy, a Republican from Fort Pierce, and Johanna Lopez, a Democrat from Orlando. The House voted on the bill hours after the Florida state Senate Rules Committee approved the Senate version of the bill, which is positioned to go to the full chamber.
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