Florida SB 612 - Florida bill to restrict the use of “title”
Posted about 11 years ago by Regina Pommer
AANP bill tracker noted that the Florida bill to restrict the use of “title” has been assigned a bill number.
The Florida legislature yesterday introduced a bill that would restrict the use of the title "Doctor" or the abbreviation "Dr" without additionally disclosing that one was not a medical doctor or an osteopathic physician and make it a felony of the third degree. Read the full bill.
The FNPN, one of the FL AANP group members, alerted us that they were hearing that this type of legislation may be introduced this session in Florida, but no one had seen a copy of the bill draft until it was released. The Florida bill is one of the most aggressive, penalizing bills that AANP has evaluated to date. We encourage you to engage your local membership to contact legislators and oppose the bill. Please review AANP’s issue brief on the AMA’s “Truth in Advertising” campaign and suggestions to help you and your members as you work with your legislators.
AANP and our national colleagues at the Coalition for Patient Rights will be coordinating some efforts at the national level. Please let me know how AANP can further support your local efforts. I will connect again shortly with added materials and updates.
Thank you for standing for our patients and the profession. AANP appreciates your work.
-Tay
Tay Kopanos, DNP,NP
VP State Government Affairs
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
www.aanp.org
P: (512) 732-2320
F: 703-413-4324
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Dear Colleagues, This Bill - SB 612 -filed by the newly elected Senator Bill Galvano (Bradenton-former House member) and the Companion House Bill - yet to be numbered by the new Representative Heather Fitzenhagen (Ft Myers -a Lawyer) is biased and wrong. It is arbitrary and capricious - targeting only nurses who hold a terminal degree in thier profession! While there are many other professionals working in clincial areas with doctoral degrees - they are not included in this nasty bill. Why only NURSES Chapter 464? We want to know why this bill is even necessary especially when we have so much wrong with health care access in Florida!! This is not simply an attack on NP's but ALL FLORIDA NURSES!! Several NURSES have tried to meet with these legislators and they refuse to meet in person!! All voters need to know that these two legislators are not willing to represent all constituents-seems like some elected officials cater only to those who heavily fund campaigns? WRITE AND CALL THESE LEGISLATORS. WRITE AND CALL YOUR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES TOO. WRITE AND CALL ALL THE HEALTH COMMITTEE MEMBERS. DO IT NOW! WE MUST WORK FAST AND HARD TO KILL THIS BILL!
Thank you Jean. I hope you do not mind if I borrowed some of your ideas to craft this letter to my state senator Jack Latvala, and other Florida house/senate members: Feel free to use!
I am a nurse practitioner and your constituent. This Bill - SB 612 -filed by the newly elected Senator Bill Galvano (Bradenton-former House member) and the Companion House Bill - yet to be numbered by the new Representative Heather Fitzenhagen (Ft Myers -a Lawyer) is biased and wrong. It states that the most highly educated nurses who use their title of doctor nursing may be punished with a third degree felony. It is arbitrary and capricious - targeting only nurses who hold a terminal degree in thier profession! While there are many other professionals working in clincial areas with doctoral degrees - they are not included in this nasty bill. Why only NURSES Chapter 464?
Doctorally prepared nurse practitioners are professionals who would never mislead the public with the inappropriate use of the word doctor. We are actively discussing the manner in which to approach the public as we attain doctoral status for entry into practice. Doctoral preparation is the new requirement for clinical practice for pharmacists, physical therapists, dentists, chiropractors, and other health professionals. This bill is discriminatory towards nurses. This is not simply an attack on NP's but ALL FLORIDA NURSES!! Several NURSES have tried to meet with these legislators and they refuse to meet in person.
I urge you and your fellow senators to shoot Bill 612 down the toilet where it deserves, never to be resuscitated.
Sincerely,
Kathy Iorillo, Nurse Practitioner
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