This bill provides sovereign immunity to ALL emergency room doctors and hospitals.  This means that patients  who are  in emergency rooms will be severely restricted in terms of accountability. Hospitals and doctors will have less incentive to take good care of patients in emergency rooms.  
 
2.      Invasion of Patient Confidentiality:  
Doctor/patient confidentiality is critically important.   The bill requires patients involved in medical malpractice cases to sign away the right to privacy, so that persons representing a doctor, hospital, or insurance company can speak directly to your doctor without your attorney being present, and can see pretty much all of your medical records, your private medical history , including  information that is not even related to your case. 

It is highly likely that the Senate will be voting on this bill (SB 564) on the floor next Wednesday, April 16, 2003.

If you wish to be heard on this issue, either pro or con, please contact the following “key” Senators – those who want to hear from “the people” on these issues.

 (Note --  Please, be respectful – the legislators’ staff people are getting calls daily on both sides of this issue.)
 
Senator Nancy Argenziano (Senate District 3)
Phone: (352) 860-5175
Fax:  (352) 860-5177
[email protected]
 
Senator Dave Aronberg (Senate District 27)
Phone: (561) 433-2627
Fax:  (561) 434-3995
[email protected]
 
Senator Jeff Atwater (Senate District 25)
Phone: (561) 625-5101
Fax:  (561) 625-5103
[email protected]
 
Senator Michael Bennett (Senate District 21)
Phone:  (941) 727-6349
Fax:  (941) 727-6352
[email protected]
 
Senator Larcenia Bullard (Senate District 39)
Phone:  (305) 668-7344
Fax:  (305) 668-7348
[email protected]
 
Senator Lisa Carlton (Senate District 23)
Phone:  (941) 486-2032
Fax:  (941) 486-2050
[email protected]