ACLU of Florida warns of grave impact on pregnant patients and their support systems if bill is passed into law
TALLAHASSEE, FL – Today, the Florida House voted to pass House Bill 1517, which could expose doctors providing abortion care to civil lawsuits for damages. As written, the bill would also incentivize civil lawsuits for damages against the friends and family members who supported a pregnant person’s efforts to access abortion care. Additionally, it would allow any individual who impregnated another person to sue for the wrongful death of a fetus without obtaining the consent of the pregnant person who lost her pregnancy.
The ACLU of Florida strongly opposes this bill and its companion bill, Senate Bill 1284 (SB 1284), which is set to be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice on Thursday.
Kara Gross, legislative director and senior policy counsel of the ACLU of Florida, responded with the following:
“Let’s be clear: this bill is part of a broader, deceptive strategy to intimidate abortion providers, patients, and even their loved ones through the threat of civil litigation.
“The sponsor purports that this bill is simply about providing compensation to pregnant couples who lose their pregnancy, but this type of compensation is already allowed under existing Florida law. What Florida law doesn’t cover – and what this bill would do – is allow any person who impregnates another to bring a cause of action against health care providers, friends, and family who support a woman’s efforts to access abortion care.
“These types of bills have been implemented in other states to target healthcare providers providing abortion care, as well as the friends and family members who support a pregnant person's effort to access an abortion. These are not hypothetical situations- we have seen dangerous wrongful death cases like these brought in Texas and Arizona. In Texas, a man sued three friends of his ex-wife for a million dollars each for helping his former wife access abortion medication. In Arizona, a man accompanied his then-wife to her abortion appointment, then, two years after their divorce, filed a wrongful death suit against the healthcare clinic.
“Moreover, the bill is so broadly worded that it treats fertilized eggs and embryos the same as actual human beings, which could lead to dangerous cascading restrictions on fertility services like IVF, as well as patient access to emergency care and cancer treatments.
“No one should have to fear being sued for damages for helping a friend or loved one access an abortion. This is government interference at its worst.”
