Doc may force patients to sign waivers

papersFrom St. Pete Times:

The Florida Medical Association is asking its members to get their patients to sign waivers limiting any “pain and suffering” damages to $250,000. (Doctors want you to sign this )
It’s the latest shot from the FMA to fight huge malpractice settlements.
In 2004, Florida voters approved a ballot measure that restricted plaintiff’s attorney fees to 30 percent of the first $250,000 of an award and 10 percent of money above that, excluding court costs.

Lawyers responded by simply asking clients to waive their rights to that fee restriction. On Thursday, the state’s high court ruled that the lawyers’ waiver was permissible.

Funny, the FMA isn’t telling the doctors to give their patients discounts or lower fees if they sign the waiver.

See proposed medical waiver (PDF)

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Author: Rick Outzen

Rick Outzen is the publisher/owner of Pensacola Inweekly. He has been profiled in The New York Times and featured in several True Crime documentaries. Rick also is the author of the award-winning Walker Holmes thrillers. His latest nonfiction book is “Right Idea, Right Time: The Fight for Pensacola’s Maritime Park.”