Latest news with #RonDeSantis
Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Ron DeSantis Blocks Repeal of 'Free Kill' Medical Malpractice Law
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has blocked a bill which would have repealed a so-called "free kill" medical malpractice law in the state. Why It Matters This year, the Florida legislature approved a bill that would have repealed a 1990 Florida law that bars unmarried adult children over the age of 25 and their parents from recovering medical malpractice damages in cases involving the deaths of their parents or children. This law has been known as the "free kill" law and Florida is the only state in which it exists, having been signed into law by then-Governor Lawton Chiles. Since 2017, Florida has had no caps on pain and suffering awards in medical malpractice suits because the Florida Supreme Court ruled them unconstitutional. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a public event where he announced he would sign a bill banning the use of fluoride in public water systems, Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in Miami. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a public event where he announced he would sign a bill banning the use of fluoride in public water systems, Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in Miami. AP Photo/Lynne Sladky The state House approved the measure 104 votes to 6. On May 1, the Senate passed it 33 votes to 4 and rejected an amendment that would have included caps. What To Know DeSantis said the bill lacked limits on damages and claimed this would make it harder for the state to recruit doctors. He said the proposal could "open flood gates" for litigation. What People Are Saying DeSantis said: "If you don't have those caps, then you really are incentivizing a lot more litigation to take place in the state of Florida. None of that is free lunch. Somebody will have to pay for it. And unfortunately, I think if this bill became law, I do think the cost would be borne by the physicians, who would potentially flee the state, to people that wouldn't have as much access to care." Florida law firm Palmer Lopez previously described the law as one of the Sunshine State's "most controversial medical malpractice statutes," adding that: "If you do not have a surviving spouse or any children younger than 25, the grim reality is that you're the sole individual with the legal standing to initiate a wrongful death claim against the doctor. Tragically, by the time your case could potentially reach court, you would no longer be alive to see it through [ …] While the situation may sound absurd, it, in fact, describes the reality of many medical malpractice victims in Florida." Jacksonville Republican Senator Clay Yarborough previously said: "This is a 35-year-old law that needs to be repealed. It's unjust. It shouldn't be on the books." Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joe Ladapo said: "The wise thing to do in that situation is to have caps in that situation. Frankly, it's insane to have a system with no caps on noneconomic damages." What Happens Next The legislature could override DeSantis' veto in the next week. Meanwhile, DeSantis signed new legislation on Wednesday that will impose tougher penalties on individuals who abandon pets during natural disasters.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
‘My son died, and Florida law allowed it': Medical Malpractice bill vetoed
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The state's so-called 'free kill' law is here to stay. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday that he is vetoing a bill that would have allowed more families to file wrongful death lawsuits against hospitals. 'Lack of communication' led to unpermitted group home where murder occurred, Bartow official says The bill was aimed to close what supporters call a deadly legal loophole. DeSantis said he is protecting the state's health care system, but families today told us he's protecting the wrong people. 'My son Jo-Jo died, and Florida law allowed it,' said Marcy Shepler, a supporter of HB 6017. A group of families gathered in downtown Tampa with stories that differ in detail, but the outcome is the same. Family members said their loved ones died in Florida hospitals, and state law still denies them a chance to hold anyone accountable. 'One single signature could have restored justice for many families,' Sabrina Davis said. The bill aimed to close a legal loophole that prevents some parents and children from suing for non-economic damages like pain and suffering when a loved one dies due to medical negligence. 'It will lead to higher costs for Floridians,' DeSantis said. 'It will lead to less access to care for Floridians, and it would make it harder for us to keep, recruit and maintain physicians in the state of Florida.' 'But what we saw today is that Governor DeSantis basically said that, you know, our loved ones are collateral damage in the health care system so that we can keep the health care and the insurance lobbyists' costs down,' said one HB 6017 supporter named Lauren. DeSantis said the state needs caps to prevent costly lawsuits and protect access to care. But some families argues those same caps let hospitals avoid accountability. 'Well, now all they have to do is have the goal of let's make it cost more than the caps, and you're right back where you were,' Travis Creighton said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Fla. Gov. DeSantis vetoes bill to repeal ‘free kill' medical malpractice law
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday officially vetoed a bill that would have overturned what has been called Florida's 'free kill' law. The 35-year-old law prohibits family members from suing for big payouts for pain and suffering if an unmarried loved one who was 25 years old or older unexpectedly dies from medical negligence. The family members can sue only for economic damages such as funeral costs or medical bills. Florida is the only state with this type of legal restriction in place. This session, lawmakers in both the House and Senate overwhelmingly approved a bill for a full repeal after hearing testimony from dozens of grief-stricken families. On Thursday, at a news conference at a hospital in Fort Myers, DeSantis re-stated that he opposes the proposed bill that the state's lawmakers sent to him for his signature. 'When you have the floodgates open there's an incentive for lawyers to bring cases knowing that if someone sues you, even if you are 100% in the right, just the cost of having to defend that can be prohibitive,' DeSantis said. 'Sometimes it's cheaper to do a settlement even if you haven't done anything wrong. That imposes costs on our economy, our society.' DeSantis also claimed that repealing the law would lead to higher malpractice premiums and make it more difficult to recruit physicians to Florida, a state struggling with a physician shortage. Florida already has among the highest premiums for medical malpractice insurance, he said. The governor reminded Floridians that state law still allows anyone to sue for economic damages, and cited a lack of caps on such noneconomic damages as pain and suffering as a major flaw in the bill sent to him to sign. Family members of victims of malpractice have been fighting for eight years to overturn the law called the Wrongful Death Act. 'We have a right to expect that physicians are going to meet appropriate standards,' DeSantis said. 'There's a lot that goes into it. The state of Florida provides a lot of support for training physicians. If someone is careless, there needs to be accountability, but what is the best way to do that? Is it to open the floodgates and open it up to lawsuits against physicians who weren't necessarily negligent?' With the session still underway, lawmakers could override the governor's veto. Melody Page, co-founder of the Florida Medical Rights Association, said advocates will continue to hold news conferences and lobby in Tallahassee to repeal the 'free kill' law. 'We have lots of support,' she said, adding that if even if lawmakers don't override the governor's veto, her group will push to have a repeal of the law considered next session. 'Every year, more people find the movement when they can't get accountability and their loved one is killed. Advocacy fills that void.' Page said that rather than fighting to repeal the law or worrying about higher medical malpractice premiums, healthcare providers should focus on improving the quality of care. 'Corporations own most hospitals now,' Page said. 'If they were to put dollars into improving the staffing ratio, patient safety, and professional development, then maybe they wouldn't have high medical malpractice rates.' At DeSantis' Thursday news conference, Dr. Larry Antonucci, president and CEO of Lee Health, said he supports the governor's stance on the bill 'on many fronts.' The biggest reason, he said, is that the bill would exacerbate the physician shortage, increase costs, and impact emergency services. 'It will be a deterrent to the one thing that is critical for all of us and that is the recruitment of physicians to this state,' he said. 'We are recruiting hundreds of physicians every year and there are other places people are going to want to go because of the risk of malpractice.' Medical malpractice attorney Jordan Dulcie of Searcy Law in West Palm Beach said Floridians would benefit by a repeal of the law because the state disciplinary process for doctors is not effective in discouraging bad behavior. 'Attorneys are the only ones who hold doctors accountable,' Dulcie said. 'The victims of this law are going to continue to fight, and I will be there to support them.' The bill's sponsors were aware they would have an uphill battle in getting DeSantis to sign off. Mary Jo Cain Reis, who says her father, who lived in Cocoa Beach, was a victim of medical negligence, is already talking to the lawmakers to garner support for an override of the veto. 'It passed 93% in both chambers, so we need to keep fighting for it,' she said. 'We're not going away.' _____
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Florida enacts Dexter's and Trooper's Law to combat animal abuse
TAMPA, Fla. (BLOOM) — Two new state laws aimed at protecting animals and increasing accountability for abusers are set to take effect in Florida, following the recent signing of Dexter's Law and Trooper's Law by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Dexter's Law, named after a dog found brutally decapitated and stuffed into a plastic bag days after being adopted in 2023, strengthens penalties for aggravated animal cruelty and creates Florida's first-ever public registry of convicted animal abusers. The law takes effect July 1. The measure introduces a 1.25 sentencing multiplier in cases of aggravated animal cruelty and requires the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to maintain a searchable database identifying individuals convicted of such offenses. Supporters say the law is a critical tool for transparency, deterrence, and prevention. 'Making the identities of convicted abusers public will empower shelters, rescue groups, and adopters to protect vulnerable animals,' said Doll Stanley, Justice for Animals Campaign Director for In Defense of Animals. 'Dexter's Law is justice for Dexter — and a powerful safeguard for other animals statewide.' In Defense of Animals, a national nonprofit, led advocacy efforts with more than 14,000 signatures pushing for justice in Dexter's case and over 1,000 Floridians contacting lawmakers to demand legislative change. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Linda Chaney, Sen. Tom Leek, and Rep. Meg Weinberger, and championed by Port Orange resident Debbie Darino, also behind 2018's Ponce's Law. Gov. DeSantis also signed Trooper's Law, which makes it a third-degree felony to restrain and abandon a dog outdoors during a declared natural disaster or mandatory evacuation. Named after a bull terrier rescued by Florida Highway Patrol during Hurricane Milton, the law goes into effect Oct. 1. The new laws are especially relevant to the Tampa Bay area, where hurricanes and tropical storms are regular threats. Local animal advocates say Trooper's Law could be lifesaving for pets and first responders alike during future emergencies. 'These are commonsense protections that reflect how seriously Floridians value the safety of animals,' said Amy Rondeau, a longtime Tampa Bay volunteer with rescue organizations. 'Trooper's Law will encourage more people to think twice before leaving dogs behind when a storm hits.' Experts note that these laws go beyond animal welfare. Dr. Marilyn Kroplick, a psychiatrist and president of In Defense of Animals, says cruelty to animals often correlates with human violence. 'Dexter's Law is not just about protecting dogs — it's a public safety measure,' Kroplick said. 'Identifying abusers can help prevent further trauma and violence in our communities.' With the enactment of both laws, Florida becomes one of the few states with a public animal abuse registry — a move animal rights groups hope other states will emulate. For Tampa Bay residents, the laws offer reassurance that abusers will face greater consequences and that pets, particularly during the state's tumultuous hurricane season, will have stronger protections. More information and resources are available through In Defense of Animals at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Dozens of construction workers detained in Tallahassee immigration raid
Federal immigration agents descended on a construction site for new apartment buildings near Florida State University on Thursday morning, rounding up dozens of workers as distraught family members, friends and colleagues watched them be questioned and detained by authorities. At least 30 people were arrested, zip-tied and held inside a white bus with barred windows, waiting to be transported to an unknown facility. Some of the detained workers spoke to reporters through the grated windows, identifying themselves as Nicaraguans, Venezuelans, Mexicans and Hondurans. One of the detainees said he had permanent residency in the United States. 'They treat us like criminals,' a detained worker from Mexico who identified himself as Geronimo told a Miami Herald reporter in Spanish. 'Ni modo,' he said lamenting that the work they do in the U.S. is not appreciated. 'We are now going to go put that energy back into our country.' The immigration operation — led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with the help of Florida Highway Patrol — is the latest example of how the Trump administration and the state are partnering to accelerate deportations in Florida. Since President Donald Trump took office, Gov. Ron DeSantis has pushed local and state law enforcement agencies to join the president's immigration crackdown, and helped in a statewide sweep that led to hundreds of arrests. On Thursday, ICE said in a statement that authorities went to the construction site to serve 'multiple search warrants as part of an ongoing investigation in the Tallahassee region.' It is unclear whether all of those detained were identified by federal authorities prior to their arrival, or if some were caught in the cross-hairs of the operation. IMMIGRATION: Activists supporting immigrants' rights are celebrating this act by Ron DeSantis Faustino Macedo, a 41-year-old father whose wife and five children are U.S. citizens, was among those detained on Thursday, his wife, Amanda Parrish, told the Herald. Macedo was in the process of getting a green card, did not have a criminal background and had worked for the same company for 14 years, Parrish said. The company, New South Systems, did not respond to a request seeking comment. Parrish witnessed her husband stand for hours next to dozens of workers, each of whom were being questioned by federal authorities about their immigration status. She stood by a fence crying and worrying about her family. 'This is what I was hoping would not happen,' she said in tears. 'They are not just immigrants. They have families. They are family.' Lila Munoz, 22, was with her brother and mother outside of the construction site where her uncle and dad were working. Her father was detained and put inside the bus, she said. She is hopeful he will be released from custody because she said there is proof that he was going through the legal immigration process and that he has no criminal record. As she watched federal authorities question workers, Munoz recalled a conversation her parents recently had with her and her two younger siblings. They wanted to prepare them for such an event. 'It hurts that families have to talk about this with their kids,' Munoz said in tears. 'He had never done anything illegal. He just works hard every day to support his family.' She said her dad's main message was clear. 'He wanted us to be strong,' Munoz said.
