TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida lawmakers are pushing ahead
with changes that could curb medical malpractice lawsuits against
doctors.
      A House panel on Monday became the third committee to approve
the bill. A similar measure is also now moving in the Senate.
      Doctors won some lawsuit protections back in 2003, but the bills
now under consideration would make it harder to prove that a doctor
had committed medical malpractice.
      Another provision of the bill would allow an attorney to
privately interview doctors without getting permission from that
doctor's patient.
      Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, contends the legislation
will encourage doctors to practice in Florida.
      But opponents of the measure say it will invade the privacy of
patients.
      The Senate bill includes a provision that would allow
optometrists to prescribe certain drugs.

     
      (Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)