Women could sue 10 years after abortions under new Florida House bill

[HAB911]

TALLAHASSEE — Women who are injured or feel emotional distress for up to 10 years after an abortion could sue their doctors under a new proposal being pushed by state lawmakers.

Approved on a 10-6 vote by a House subcommittee on Thursday, the legislation (HB 19) is the first bill that could restrict a woman's access to an abortion to gain support in the state Capitol this year. And it won't be the last.

Rep. Erin Grall, R-Vero Beach, a lawyer in her first year in the Legislature, sponsored the bill. She says the measure will help women whose doctors don't properly obtain their informed consent by giving them as much as a decade to file suit — longer than the two years allowed under existing medical malpractice laws.

"Because of the stigma associated with the procedure in our society, sometimes women are not as willing to speak out, which would make it difficult for them to decide to do that within the two-year period," Grall said. "It's a timing issue."

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/women-could-sue-10-years-after-abortions-under-new-florida-house-bill/2312725