Florida Governor Signs Malpractice Bill Into Law

Florida Gov. Rick Scott has signed two bills that changes the state’s medical malpractice procedure.

The first change requires that medical experts who testify in medical malpractice cases will now need to be the same specialty as the physician who is the defendant in the case.

The second change allows defense attorneys representing a physician to obtain information about a plaintiff patient from subsequent healthcare providers. While the new measures were enacted as a way to cut down on frivolous lawsuits and make Florida more appealing to physicians, they have been objected to strenuously by the Florida Justice Association (FJA), a trial lawyers’ group.

The FJA has argued that the new bills will make it more expensive and more difficult to obtain expert testimony, thus harming the ability of injured plaintiffs to seek justice.

For more information about the new measures, click here.