Latest news with #FreeKill
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoes bill that would have repealed ‘Free Kill' law
A controversial 35-year-old state law will stay on the books, at least for now. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday morning publicly vetoed a bill that would have repealed Florida's so-called 'Free Kill' law that blocks some families from suing for pain and suffering when they lose a loved one to medical negligence. The veto comes as a devastating blow to advocates who had fought for the passage of this bill this year. They'd been fighting for a repeal of the Free Kill law for years. This was the first time it had ever passed the Legislature, and it did so overwhelmingly. But DeSantis said it would have harmed the state's health care quality. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] The carveout, unique to Florida, prevents anyone from suing for pain and suffering when an unmarried person over the age of 25, with no children under the age of 25, dies due to medical negligence. Supporters of the repeal argue the law creates a two-tiered system of justice that provides no accountability for an entire category of people. But DeSantis argued the repeal of the carve-out would have led to a flood of new lawsuits that would have increased health care costs and pushed doctors out of the state. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] He said he would have supported the bill if it had capped pain and suffering damages that could be awarded for all cases of medical negligence, but that's a proposal the legislature has rejected for the last two years in a row. 'If this legislation would be enacted, it would lead to higher costs for Floridians. It would lead to less access to care for Floridians. It would make it harder for us to keep, recruit, and maintain physicians in the State of Florida, and we need more as it is now,' DeSantis said. Coming up on CBS47 and FOX30 Action News Jax at 5, we'll hear from a local mother who has been fighting to repeal the Free Kill carveout since losing her daughter in 2023, for her reaction to the veto and what she plans to do next. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida Senate votes to repeal Florida's ‘Free Kill' law, sends bill to Gov. DeSantis
Florida lawmakers have agreed to repeal the 35-year-old 'Free Kill' law. The law bars adult children and their parents from suing for wrongful death caused by medical malpractice. The bill cleared the Senate Thursday night with a vote of 33-4. An overwhelming share of state House lawmakers approved it late last month. The bill will now head to Gov. Ron DeSantis' desk for his signature. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
‘They're our future:' Officials raise awareness of hot car safety with summer months incoming
It's been more than four years since 1-year-old Jace Wallace was left in his caregiver's hot car for more than seven hours, and he was later pronounced dead on the scene. Jace's mother, Makia Wallace, says that not a day goes by that she doesn't miss her baby boy. 'Days turned into weeks, weeks into months. This wasn't a bad dream, but a reality,' Wallace recounted. 'Losing a child isn't something I would wish on anyone.' On Thursday morning, Wallace took the time alongside Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters, child safety experts, and other community leaders to raise awareness about the importance of hot car safety in the coming summer months. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Read: 'Heartbreaking': One of Bradford County's largest employers shuts down 'You've gotta take care of that beautiful gift from God, that child that you've been given,' stressed Brian Gilligan, the medical director at Wolfson's Children's Hospital's Pediatric Emergency Department. 'They're our future right there, and it's tragic when something like this happens.' Additionally, only Texas has had more children die from hot cars than Florida since 1990 – according to the organization 'Kids and Cars' - further highlighting the importance of always being aware who's in the backseat, as a majority of hot car deaths are often completely accidental. '[It's important] having some sort of deliberate strategy to help remember you've got the child in the back,' Gilligan explained. 'Leaving your purse, or your briefcase, or your backpack, or your phone, stay off the phone, leave it in the backseat. And when you get out and get to where you're going, look in the backseat, grab your stuff, you've got your child, and then lock your car.' Read: Woman riding bicycle hit, killed by tow truck in 50th traffic death of 2025, Jacksonville police say Gilligan also stressed that no errand, no matter how quick, is worth risking a child's life over, adding that a cracked window won't get in the way of tragedy striking. 'Studies have shown that doesn't make a difference,' Gilligan said Thursday. 'We all think it does, but it really doesn't. And that temperature still continues to heat up.' Read: Florida Senate rejects pain, suffering caps on 'Free Kill' repeal, but bill's fate still uncertain [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Florida Senate rejects pain, suffering caps on ‘Free Kill' repeal, but bill's fate still uncertain
Florida families who were denied access to the courts after losing their loved ones to medical negligence are worried their hopes of repealing a 35-year-old state law may be derailed in the final days of the state legislative session. It was one of the first bills heard this session - the repeal of Florida's 'Free Kill' law, which prohibits loved ones from suing for pain and suffering in cases of medical negligence when they lose an adult child or parent who is single, over the age of 25, and has no children over the age of 25. Fleming Island mother Cindy Jenkins began her fight for the repeal in 2023, when her 25-year-old daughter Taylor died after a doctor failed to treat internal bleeding that had been caused during a car accident. 'After I paid for a private autopsy and I knew exactly what had happened, I wanted to make sure it never happened to anybody else,' Jenkins said. Read: Local mother hoping 2025 will be the year Florida's 'Free Kill' law is repealed The clean repeal made it through the full House last month. But before it was heard on the Senate floor, amendments seen as poison pills by advocates were filed throughout the day Tuesday. Two were withdrawn, but the third, which was filed by Senate Sponsor Clay Yarborough (R-Jacksonville) himself, was presented on the floor. Read: 'It's never gonna end if we don't fight': 'Free Kill' repeal appears on track to pass after 35-year battle The amendment would have imposed a $1 million cap for all pain and suffering damages in cases of medical malpractice. It was the addition of caps that killed last year's effort to repeal the Free Kill law. 'If they amend our bill and pass it with caps, they're restoring the rights to a few, but hurting the masses and we don't want to be used,' Jenkins said. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] But in a rare 18-19 vote, Yarborough's amendment to his own bill was rejected by the Senate. Moments later, in another surprise twist, Yarborough temporarily postponed his bill before a final vote could be taken. Jenkins told Action News Jax she's hopeful senators return to the legislation and send a clean repeal to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] But with only three days left in session, time is running out. 'We should not be walking on eggshells with one branch of government being concerned what the next branch of government is going to do. We should let each branch of government do its job, let bills run their course and then if that branch of government vetoes it, we will cross that bridge,' Jenkins said. Action News Jax is continuing to monitor this legislation as lawmakers continue to work through their daily agenda. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Florida bill aims to have more accountability after deadly medical mistakes
Families in Florida may soon have more power to hold medical providers accountable after deadly mistakes. The House overwhelmingly passed a bill to repeal the state's so-called 'Free Kill' law on Wednesday. The statute bars a family member from pursuing medical malpractice claims if they are over the age of 25 or unmarried with no dependents. The Senate is expected to take up the bill next. If signed into law, the repeal would take effect this July. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
