Florida Could Curb Lawsuits Against Doctors

Florida lawmakers are pushing ahead with changes that could curb medical malpractice lawsuits against doctors.

A House panel on Monday became the third committee to approve the bill. A similar measure is also now moving in the Senate.

Doctors won some lawsuit protections back in 2003, but the bills now under consideration would make it harder to prove that a doctor had committed medical malpractice.

Another provision of the bill would allow an attorney to privately interview doctors without getting permission from that doctor’s patient.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, contends the legislation will encourage doctors to practice in Florida.

But opponents of the measure say it will invade the privacy of patients.

The Senate bill includes a provision that would allow optometrists to prescribe certain drugs.