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NewsABC Action News (WFTS) — StateOctober 29, 2026Hillsborough County

Florida mom campaigns to change wrongful death law after her daughter's fatal hospital discharge

Photo: ABC Action News (WFTS) — State

Beth Miller is advocating to change a Florida wrongful death law that prevents parents from recovering certain damages in medical malpractice cases involving adult children over 24 without spouses or children. Miller's 49-year-old daughter, Dawn, died from sepsis and bleeding hours after being discharged from a hospital despite declining kidney function and expressing that she felt too weak to go home. Critics argue the 1990 statute, enacted during a medical malpractice insurance crisis, reduces financial accountability for health care providers, while historical debates center on whether the restrictions ever effectively lowered malpractice costs.

HealthcareLegal SystemInsuranceState Government
Read the full story at ABC Action News (WFTS) — State

Why It Matters

The statute restricts specific family members from recovering damages in medical malpractice lawsuits when an adult patient without a spouse or children dies, limiting legal recourse for affected families.

Key Facts

Each fact below is taken from the article. Click one to see the exact passage.

Who's Mentioned

OrganizationABC Action News (WFTS)“Publishing outlet for the report”locationFlorida“State where the law and hospital discharge occurred”locationWest Palm Beach“City where attorney Jordan Dulce is based”PersonBeth Miller“Mother of Dawn Miller who is fighting Florida's wrongful death law”PersonDr. Gerald Feigin“Reviewed Dawn Miller's medical records and stated she should not have been disch”OrganizationFlorida's Office of Insurance Regulation“Published a 2026 report on the medical malpractice insurance industry”PersonDawn Miller“49-year-old woman who died hours after being discharged from a hospital”OrganizationU.S. Government Accountability Office“Examined claims of physician shortages in 2003”PersonKate Hussey“WPTV investigative reporter covering the investigation”PersonJordan Dulce“West Palm Beach attorney and critic of Florida's wrongful death law”OrganizationWPTV“Conducted investigations and reviewed records related to the case”