What Is The “Free Kill” Law In Florida?

Although many families suffer the life-changing effects of medical malpractice in Florida, the so-called “Free Kill” Law prevents many of these individuals from pursuing justice and compensation. The truth is that medical malpractice lawsuits can be quite challenging to win across the entire nation, as numerous states have laws that seem to protect medical professionals from liability. But what exactly is the Free Kill Law, and how might it affect your own medical malpractice lawsuit?

If you’ve suffered at the hands of a negligent medical professional, you are fully within your rights to pursue legal action. In order to do this, you’ll need to get in touch with a qualified, experienced personal injury lawsuit in Florida. During your first consultation, your attorney will assess your unique situation and determine the best path forward. With their assistance, you can gain compensation for a wide range of damages, including medical expenses, missed wages, emotional distress, and much more. If your family member has lost their life due to medical malpractice, you can file a lawsuit on their behalf. It’s important to book your consultation as soon as possible for best results.

The Free Kill Law Explained 

The Free Kill Law prevents families from filing medical malpractice claims if deceased victims were adults. The law has been in place for more than three decades, and it is heavily associated with conservative efforts among the Republican political party in Florida. The exact law is outlined in statute 768.21, statute 8. Passed in 1990, the bill only allows family members to receive compensation if they had children under the age of 25 before passing.

Why is the Free Kill Law in Place? 

The Free Kill Law was reportedly put in place due to skyrocketing malpractice insurance rates in the healthcare industry. In order to prevent these rates from increasing even further, lawmakers felt that the best solution was to limit the number of potential lawsuits with the aforementioned statute.

Will the Free Kill Law Be Around Forever? 

Politicians and concerned advocates have been fighting to get rid of the Free Kill Law since its inception. While these efforts have been unsuccessful throughout the decades, there is a chance that it may one day be abolished. Politicians are constantly introducing and reintroducing bills to end the statute into the House, and perhaps its end is sooner than we think. Until then, lawyers are likely to turn away clients who cannot legally sue due to the Free Kill law – even if their case would be considered extremely strong in any other state.

Enlist the Help of a Qualified Attorney Today 

For help from an Orlando personal injury attorney, look no further than Payer Law. Over the years, we have represented numerous injured plaintiffs in the Sunshine State – including those who have suffered tragic injuries at the hands of negligent medical professionals. We have also helped family members file wrongful death lawsuits after losing their loved ones. If you’d like to pursue decisive legal action, get in touch and book your consultation today.

Sources: 

wuft.org/news/2022/02/09/senate-effectively-ends-efforts-to-overturn-floridas-free-kill-law-protecting-doctors-in-malpractice-lawsuits/#:~:text=Florida’s%20Senate%20has%20effectively%20abandoned,when%20the%20victims%20are%20adults.

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0768/Sections/0768.21.html