The Florida Orthopaedic Association is among the physician organizations calling on Gov. Ron DeSantis to veto a bill that would enumerate rights of parents related to healthcare and education, Fox 13 Tampa Bay reports.
The "parents' bill of rights" would prohibit physicians from providing care to children without parental consent.
The bill raises concerns for Florida physicians, many of whom serve as team physicians for local schools or volunteer at community sporting events.
In a May 13 letter to Mr. DeSantis, physician leaders painted a picture of a likely scenario if the bill were to pass: "Imagine the dilemma of seeing a child sustain a spinal cord injury from a fall, being present and able to provide emergency medical assistance that might save that child's life, but being legally prohibited from doing so unless the parent was present to provide written consent."
The letter was signed by physician leaders of the Florida Medical Association, Florida Osteopathic Medical Association, American College of Surgeons and Florida Academy of Family Physicians, among others.
Mr. DeSantis will decide whether to sign or veto the bill, or allow it to become law without his signature, according to the report.