Florida Lawmakers Move to Change State’s Wrongful Death ‘Free Kill’ Law

Florida House Bill 129 would repeal the age and marital status requirements that decide which family members can sue for medical malpractice wrongful deaths.
Florida Lawmakers Move to Change State’s Wrongful Death ‘Free Kill’ Law
Luke Sukhram (left), 8, and his mother Sabrina Davis (right) stand with a photo of her father, Keith Davis, in Gainesville, Fla. on Nov. 1, 2021 after Mr. Davis passed away in 2020 due to medical negligence. Courtesy Kiara Cline
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Patient advocates and state legislators are trying to change Florida’s Wrongful Death Law, which they argue harms two groups primarily—people over 25 with special needs and unmarried adults without minor children.
Commonly referred to as Florida’s “free kill law” by its opponents, state Statute 768.21 deals with damages allowed in cases of wrongful death. The law permits lawsuits for damages in situations of wrongful death, such as a car accident, gross negligence, or medical malpractice. The damages can be both “economic,” such as the deceased’s lost income, and “non-economic,” such as mental pain and suffering. 
Jacob Burg
Jacob Burg
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Jacob Burg reports on national politics, aerospace, and aviation for The Epoch Times. He previously covered sports, regional politics, and breaking news for the Sarasota Herald Tribune.
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