TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - One 75-year-old man is fighting for justice for his wife trekking from from New York to Florida seeking support for a bill meant to protect patients from being abused by hospital and nursing-home workers.
Edward Bowman wrote Clara's Law after his wife was sexually assaulted in a Florida hospital 10 years ago.
The proposed bill would require facilities to report similar incidences to the state Health and Education departments within 30 days.
It would also alert other healthcare facilities if a care giver has abused a patient.
"We've got to look out for the people that can't look out for themselves. I choose to do this because my wife did not deserve, she lived two and a half years with post traumatic stress. She didn't have to, she didn't deserve that, no one else does either, and I'm here by the grace of God to see that they don't," said Edward Bowman.
Bowman said this bill is being reviewed by the New York state senate in the upcoming session.
Florida law currently states "sexual abuse of a patient by a member of the hospital must be reported to law enforcement."
