House panel approves medical malpractice bill

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida's six teaching hospitals would get more protection from medical malpractice damages if they adopt some practices aimed at better patient safety under a bill a House panel has approved.

The bill (HB 1293) would limit the hospitals' liability to $500,000 in non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, if they adopt certain safety measures. Currently, the hospitals could face non-economic damages of up to $1.5 million in malpractice lawsuits.

The bill was approved by the House Health and Families Council.

The hospitals would also be required to create safety plans that would have to be approved by the state's Agency for Health Care Administration to qualify for the additional immunity.

Lawyers who represent malpractice victims said the hospitals should already be undertaking such safety measures and that the bill simply erodes the rights of victims.




Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All right reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

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