Protect patients

Isn’t it odd that Florida law is excellent at protecting medical providers, but does little or nothing to protect the patient?

Sadly, like others who have had their lives destroyed, we had never even heard of “informed consent” and learned too late that we had naively placed our trust in inadequate, even fraudulent, medical practitioners.

As I watch my once active, independent husband struggle to speak, to walk and to play with our grandchildren, I wonder how different things might be if we had been advised in the weeks before his surgery what complications could occur, what actions would be taken to address any complications and, even worse, that the surgeon assigned to him had been disciplined for serious medical issues three times by the health departments of Florida and Georgia. Had such information been in writing, we would have been even better able to ask questions and make the right choice.

It is, of course, too late for us, but it isn’t too late for you to help protect yourself and your loved ones by insisting that the Legislature change Florida’s Informed Consent law.

This story was originally published January 10, 2016 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Protect patients."