Florida Supreme Court Rules Against West Florida Hospital

January 13, 2012

The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday rejected arguments by an Escambia County hospital in a legal battle about turning over documents to an injured woman’s attorneys.

The dispute stems from a 2004 constitutional amendment that called for hospitals to disclose a wide range of internal documents in medical-negligence cases. But West Florida Regional Medical Center argued it should not have to release certain documents to attorneys for Lynda See, who suffered liver damage after going to the hospital to have a gallbladder removed in 2003.

In part, the hospital contended that a federal law, known as the Health Care Quality Improvement Act of 1986, trumped the state constitutional amendment and barred the release of documents involved in internal hospital peer-review processes.

But in an opinion written by Justice R. Fred Lewis, the Supreme Court flatly rejected the argument, saying the federal law “clearly does not provide for confidentiality for peer-review documents.’.

By The News Service of Florida

Comments

15 Responses to “Florida Supreme Court Rules Against West Florida Hospital”

  1. Tom on December 25th, 2015 11:47 pm

    worst ,stupid ,hospital, dimwit, numbskulls and liars
    I went their and will NEVER go back they actually made my medical emergency worse by giving false information.
    I complained to Risk manger and it was fast cover up. to hide their mistakes

  2. Evergreen on May 23rd, 2012 7:39 am

    In the hospital community non profit or for profit all they both want is money. Non profit hospitals will spend money in order to write it off and they will screw their employees. Look at employee satisfaction and that is the way to tell whether a hospital will take care of you or not. If the nurses/drs/techs are satisfied you will receive better care. I would never go to Sacred — heard too many horror stories from employees.

  3. Dave on January 14th, 2012 10:47 pm

    I would never go to West Florida Hospital! I would rather die first and be billed later still.

  4. Retired_Leo on January 14th, 2012 8:42 am

    I have used and continue to use WFH for all my care. I have been a patient there on several occasions due to my bout with cancer. Since I was diagnosed in 2005 I have been hospitalized at WFH 5 times. Each time was no different from the previous. The care that I received from the doctors, nurses and staff was impeccable. I have never considered going to Sacred Heart nor Baptist.

    In 2009, my wife had knee replacement surgery there and was also treated with the utmost care and respect before, during and after the surgery, including the physical therapists.

    WFH, you rock and as far as I am concerned you are the only hospital in Pensacola.

  5. DJSheffield on January 13th, 2012 11:34 pm

    I have had (8) surgeries in the past two years due to a rear end accident. I have had the pleasure of using Gulf Breeze Baptist Hospital….which in my opinion comes in 1st place, then I would have to say Scared Heart. I would not go to West Florida if they were the only hospital in my area; I would then ask to be taken to Mobile. And most doctors go between Baptist and Scared, so I have been taken great care of by the doctors themselves, but as far as the nurses and techs….I would have to stick with my guns and give Gulf Breeze Baptist Hospital 110% rating all around and 100% rating to Scared Heart.

  6. go blue on January 13th, 2012 10:09 pm

    I’ll stick with Baptist….thanks. non-profit also

  7. NotAgain on January 13th, 2012 11:13 am

    West Florida Hospital is a “for profit” hospital. All they care about is money. I’ll keep going to Sacred Heart (non-profit hospital), thanks.

  8. just me on January 13th, 2012 10:58 am

    Both my husband & I have been patients at West Florida Hospital. Our care there couldn’t have been better. The doctors & nurses were the BEST. It sure was different from Sacred Heart Hospital!! I can say this because we’ve used both hospitals.

  9. leslie jerkisn on January 13th, 2012 10:14 am

    I just had serious back surgery at West Florida back on Dec 6th. I could not have asked for a better staff of nurses. I used to be a nurse and i know this, your gall bladder sits in a sac attached to your liver so yes there is a chance they could have cut her liver. But the liver is the only organ in your baody that can heal its self. True there is a chance that something went majorly wrong thats a chance with any surgery. Just cause they don’t want to turn over the documents doesnt mean they are trying to “protect” anyone it means they want the proper channels followed. But this day and age people are to sue happy.

  10. Renee on January 13th, 2012 9:35 am

    Well I can say this my Mother was recently there and the nurses on the floor she was on could have cared less abot her care. The most of them did not even have the since to find there way out of her room let alone take care of her.If it had not been for family staying wit her day and night LORD only knows what would have happen to her.

  11. Bob on January 13th, 2012 9:29 am

    ”
    “Thats how he acquired the money to do our state in.”
    Statements posted like this is absolutely ludicrous, if I lived where one person had enough power and money to do the state in, I would be packing up and moving far far away

  12. ABC on January 13th, 2012 8:59 am

    OH Sara you hit the nail on the head, thats how he acquired all the money to do our state in…………………………….

  13. ABC on January 13th, 2012 8:58 am

    Undoubtedly all who were involved and responsible for the Patients care.You know you can go online and gather safety records, and reviews of all hospitals as well as doctors.. Its a good way to narrow down choices we make, however here in Escambia County we really dont have a whole lot of choice if you use these avenues, especially in hospitals……………..

  14. Sara on January 13th, 2012 8:44 am

    They are owned by HCA..it’s all @ profit for them. Also, Gov. Scott’s former employer..the one he was accused of Medicare fraud with & took the 5th Ammendment upteenth times..

  15. Jane on January 13th, 2012 5:54 am

    So who is the hospital trying protect? The hospital, the doctor(s) involved or the patient?

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News