Healthcare interests and lobbying organizations contributed more than $15.5 million to political committees tied to Florida lawmakers who opposed repealing a medical malpractice restriction and to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who vetoed the repeal. The contributions, made between 2017 and 2026, included more than $700,000 tied to Sen.
Gayle Harrell. The restriction, which critics call Florida's “free kill” law, limits certain families' ability to recover wrongful-death damages. The records do not establish that contributions influenced votes or the veto.
More than $12 million came from hospitals, healthcare networks, physician groups, insurers, nursing homes and other healthcare interests. More than $3 million came from lobbying organizations that opposed the repeal. Committees tied to DeSantis, primarily his Florida Freedom Fund political action committee, received approximately $12.7 million since 2017, including $170,000 in the weeks and months before his veto. The contributions spanned multiple election cycles and were not necessarily connected to the repeal legislation.
Harrell, a Republican representing part of the Treasure Coast, received more than $700,000 from the groups since 2017, including $28,000 in the weeks before the vote. Sen. Tom Leek, a northeast Florida Republican, received more than $400,000 since 2024, including $15,000 in the weeks before the vote.
Rep. James Buchanan, a Sarasota County Republican, received more than $300,000 since 2018, including $46,000 in the month before the vote. Four senators and six representatives voted against the bill.
The restriction's consequences extend to families such as Beth Miller's. Her only daughter, Dawn, died hours after being discharged from a hospital following gallbladder surgery. Because Dawn was older than 25, unmarried and had no children, the law prevents Miller from recovering certain wrongful-death damages in a medical malpractice lawsuit. Critics argue that the provision creates unequal accountability based on a deceased person's age and family circumstances.
State Rep. Dana Trabulsy, a Fort Pierce Republican, sponsored House Bill 6017 to remove the restriction from Florida's Wrongful Death Act. Both chambers passed it overwhelmingly, but DeSantis vetoed it in May.
He argued that expanding recoverable damages without safeguards, including caps on damages and attorney fees, could increase costs for Floridians. Gov.-elect Byron Donalds said he would review the issue before deciding his position. “We're just going to sit down, take a look at the issue, and render a decision,” Donalds said.