The Florida Senate on Tuesday approved a scaled-back bill to deal with medical malpractice, requiring a new certification process for out-of-state expert witnesses who testify against doctors.
Senators voted 30-9 to approve HB 479, which now will have to go back to the House.
The Senate made major changes Monday, including eliminating a proposal to shield hospitals from liability when contracted physicians are accused of malpractice.
The expert-witness certification requirement would allow Florida to discipline experts who offer deceptive or fraudulent testimony — a longtime complaint of doctors.
But critics argue it is aimed at dissuading out-of-state experts from testifying in Florida cases.
Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, called the bill a “huge step forward.” Supporters argue the threat of costly malpractice lawsuits drives doctors away from Florida.
“Florida has extraordinary problems in attracting physicians,’’ Gaetz said.
