§ 766.103, Fla. Stat. · Chapter 766. MEDICAL MALPRACTICE AND RELATED MATTERS
Florida Medical Consent Law.
Text — 2026 Florida Statutes
(1) This section shall be known and cited as the “Florida Medical Consent Law.”
(2) In any medical treatment activity not covered by s. 768.13, entitled the “Good Samaritan Act,” this act shall govern.
(3) No recovery shall be allowed in any court in this state against any physician licensed under chapter 458, osteopathic physician licensed under chapter 459, chiropractic physician licensed under chapter 460, podiatric physician licensed under chapter 461, dentist licensed under chapter 466, advanced practice registered nurse licensed under s. 464.012, or physician assistant licensed under s. 458.347 or s. 459.022 in an action brought for treating, examining, or operating on a patient without his or her informed consent when:
(a)1. The action of the physician, osteopathic physician, chiropractic physician, podiatric physician, dentist, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant in obtaining the consent of the patient or another person authorized to give consent for the patient was in accordance with an accepted standard of medical practice among members of the medical profession with similar training and experience in the same or similar medical community as that of the person treating, examining, or operating on the patient for whom the consent is obtained; and
2. A reasonable individual, from the information provided by the physician, osteopathic physician, chiropractic physician, podiatric physician, dentist, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant, under the circumstances, would have a general understanding of the procedure, the medically acceptable alternative procedures or treatments, and the substantial risks and hazards inherent in the proposed treatment or procedures, which are recognized among other physicians, osteopathic physicians, chiropractic physicians, podiatric physicians, or dentists in the same or similar community who perform similar treatments or procedures; or
(b) The patient would reasonably, under all the surrounding circumstances, have undergone such treatment or procedure had he or she been advised by the physician, osteopathic physician, chiropractic physician, podiatric physician, dentist, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (a).
(4)(a) A consent which is evidenced in writing and meets the requirements of subsection (3) shall, if validly signed by the patient or another authorized person, raise a rebuttable presumption of a valid consent.
(b) A valid signature is one which is given by a person who under all the surrounding circumstances is mentally and physically competent to give consent.
Notes and commentary — not statutory text
History
s. 11, ch. 75-9; s. 21, ch. 85-175; s. 1150, ch. 97-102; s. 62, ch. 97-264; ss. 230, 297, ch. 98-166; s. 2, ch. 2007-176; s. 11, ch. 2016-145; s. 78, ch. 2018-106.
Note
Note.—Former s. 768.132; s. 768.46.
Source of truth
- Edition
- 2026 Florida Statutes
- Official file
- https://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0766/0766.html
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This section cites
Provisions in this library that the text above cites, as it prints each citation. A range cited as “ss. 61.13-61.16” links its first and last provisions.
Cited by 13 provisions
Provisions in this library whose text cites § 766.103, Fla. Stat.. Each shows the citation as that text prints it.
The Florida Statutes
- § 381.026, Fla. Stat.Florida Patient’s Bill of Rights and Responsibilities.Printed as s. 766.103
- § 401.445, Fla. Stat.Emergency examination and treatment of incapacitated persons.Printed as s. 766.103; s. 766.103(3)
- § 458.331, Fla. Stat.Grounds for disciplinary action; action by the board and department.Printed as s. 766.103
- § 459.015, Fla. Stat.Grounds for disciplinary action; action by the board and department.Printed as s. 766.103
Procedural information only. Not legal advice and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Confirm the current text with the official publisher before relying on it.