DESTIN, FLORIDA — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis signed a package of legislation to permanently protect Floridians from the “biomedical security state.” Four new laws will prohibit medical mandates, empower doctors and block dangerous gain of function research.
“Our early actions during the pandemic protected Floridians and their freedoms,” said Governor DeSantis. “We protected the rights of Floridians to make decisions for themselves and their children and rejected COVID theater, narratives, and hysteria in favor of truth and data. These expanded protections will help ensure that medical authoritarianism does not take root in Florida.”
The four landmark bills signed today safeguard Floridians’ freedom by ensuring no patient is forced by a business, school, or government entity to undergo testing, wear a mask, or be vaccinated for COVID-19.
Medical professionals now have the freedom to collaborate with patients in prescribing alternative treatments and physicians’ freedom of speech is protected. Additionally, Florida is now the first state to ban unsafe and unregulated gain-of-function research – the same research that was allegedly conducted in the Wuhan lab.
“Governor DeSantis has been a pinnacle for freedom, and today we advance the cause of public health and individual autonomy in medical decisions,” said Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo. “From empowering patients to safeguarding children in schools, Florida continues to enshrine individual liberty and lead with common sense.”
The Most Comprehensive Medical Freedom Bill in the Nation
SB 252 prohibits businesses and governmental entities from requiring individuals to provide proof of vaccination or post-infection recovery from any disease to gain access to services. The law also prohibits employers from refusing employment or discharging, disciplining, demoting, or otherwise discriminating against an individual solely on the basis of vaccination or immunity status. Discrimination against Floridians related to COVID-19 vaccination or immunity status is illegal.
Banning Gain of Function Research
HB 1387 prohibits “gain of function” research, also known as enhanced potential pandemic pathogen research.
Physicians’ Freedom of Speech
SB 1580 gives healthcare providers and healthcare payors the right to opt out of participation in or payment for certain health care services on the basis of conscience-based objections. Whistle-blower protections for health care providers and healthcare payors are also provided for in the law.
Public Records/Protection from Discrimination Based on Health Care Choices
SB 238 provides an exemption from public records requirements for certain information relating to complaints or investigations that involve violations of provisions protecting patients from discrimination based on healthcare choices.
