Opinion

By William Large
Published Jun. 16, 2025, 9:21 a.m. ET | Updated Jun. 16, 2025

Gov. Ron DeSantis delivers 2025 State of the State Address, Tallahassee, Fla., March 4, 2025. (Official photo)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Under the leadership of Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida has made great progress in reforming laws to reverse the growing trend of excessive litigation and bring balance to a tumultuous marketplace. House Bill 6017 is a step in the wrong direction.

HB 6017 would expand the number of individuals eligible to recover noneconomic damages in wrongful death cases based on claims of medical malpractice.

While this legislation was proposed with good intent, it comes at too great a cost. Without capping noneconomic damages, the expansion of eligible claimants will lead to more medical malpractice lawsuits filed and higher damages payouts, which will in turn lead to increased costs and limited access for health care.

Florida is already in the midst of a health care crisis. Medical malpractice verdicts are already high, in eye-popping amounts like $208M, often driven by large noneconomic damage amounts.

Not only are verdicts breaking records, but the already high volume of liability lawsuits is increasing in severity. A key finding of a recent benchmark study conducted by Aon and the American Society for Health Care Risk Management determined that the indemnity and defense costs associated with each medical liability lawsuit is steadily increasing.

When a hospital or provider is forced to pay excessive claims, they have to make up that cost elsewhere, such as in higher costs for care. Ultimately, the average patient foots the bill.

Faced with these and other pressures, many doctors are choosing to retire or leave the state of Florida in search of more affordable alternatives.

The Florida Department of Health reported in 2023 that more than 21% of surveyed obstetrician gynecologists (OB/GYNs) in Florida plan to discontinue obstetric care within two years, and one common explanation was liability exposure.

This staggering statistic comes at a time when Florida’s population continues to grow and demand for obstetricians is on the rise. While OB/GYN is just one specialty among health care providers, it’s a demonstrative symbol of the impact medical malpractice litigation has on access to care.

With fewer providers, patients will wait longer to see a doctor, pay more for health care services and experience deteriorated outcomes.

In short, HB 6017 would exacerbate Florida’s health care crisis by driving doctors out of our state, limiting patient access to care and increasing the cost of care.

It goes without saying that having affordable access to health care is of paramount importance. While medical malpractice reform is needed, HB 6017 proposes only to expand liability without any safeguards to ensure that Florida’s health care system and residents do not suffer as a result.

Thankfully, DeSantis vetoed HB 6017 before it could inflict harm. Now, we have the opportunity to continue the positive trends we’ve made in reforming Florida’s litigation laws and stabilizing markets, while improving choice and bringing down costs for consumers.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, thank you for prioritizing quality, accessible and affordable health care.

William Large is the president of Florida Justice Reform Institute, a statewide organization committed to restoring fairness and personal responsibility to Florida’s civil justice system.

https://flvoicenews.com/with-veto-pen-gov-ron-desantis-defends-floridas-health-care-system/