Florida Statutes
Chapter 766 - Medical Malpractice and Related Matters
766.204 - Availability of Medical Records for Presuit Investigation of Medical Negligence Claims and Defenses; Penalty.


(1) Copies of any medical record relevant to any litigation of a medical negligence claim or defense shall be provided to a claimant or a defendant, or to the attorney thereof, at a reasonable charge within 10 business days of a request for copies, except that an independent special hospital district with taxing authority which owns two or more hospitals shall have 20 days. It shall not be grounds to refuse copies of such medical records that they are not yet completed or that a medical bill is still owing.
(2) Failure to provide copies of such medical records, or failure to make the charge for copies a reasonable charge, shall constitute evidence of failure of that party to comply with good faith discovery requirements and shall waive the requirement of written medical corroboration by the requesting party.
(3) A hospital shall not be held liable for any civil damages as a result of complying with this section.
History.—s. 51, ch. 88-1; s. 27, ch. 88-277; s. 246, ch. 98-166.

Structure Florida Statutes

Florida Statutes

Title XLV - Torts

Chapter 766 - Medical Malpractice and Related Matters

766.101 - Medical Review Committee, Immunity From Liability.

766.1015 - Civil Immunity for Members of or Consultants to Certain Boards, Committees, or Other Entities.

766.1016 - Patient Safety Data Privilege.

766.102 - Medical Negligence; Standards of Recovery; Expert Witness.

766.103 - Florida Medical Consent Law.

766.104 - Medical Negligence Cases; Reasonable Investigation Required Before Filing.

766.105 - Florida Patient’s Compensation Fund.

766.106 - Notice Before Filing Action for Medical Negligence; Presuit Screening Period; Offers for Admission of Liability and for Arbitration; Informal Discovery; Review.

766.1065 - Authorization for Release of Protected Health Information.

766.108 - Mandatory Mediation and Mandatory Settlement Conference in Medical Negligence Actions.

766.110 - Liability of Health Care Facilities.

766.111 - Engaging in Unnecessary Diagnostic Testing; Penalties.

766.1115 - Health Care Providers; Creation of Agency Relationship With Governmental Contractors.

766.1116 - Health Care Practitioner; Waiver of License Renewal Fees and Continuing Education Requirements.

766.112 - Comparative Fault.

766.113 - Settlement Agreements; Prohibition on Restricting Disclosure to Division of Medical Quality Assurance.

766.118 - Determination of Noneconomic Damages.

766.1185 - Bad Faith Actions.

766.201 - Legislative Findings and Intent.

766.202 - Definitions; Ss. 766.201-766.212.

766.2021 - Limitation on Damages Against Insurers, Prepaid Limited Health Service Organizations, Health Maintenance Organizations, or Prepaid Health Clinics.

766.203 - Presuit Investigation of Medical Negligence Claims and Defenses by Prospective Parties.

766.204 - Availability of Medical Records for Presuit Investigation of Medical Negligence Claims and Defenses; Penalty.

766.205 - Presuit Discovery of Medical Negligence Claims and Defenses.

766.206 - Presuit Investigation of Medical Negligence Claims and Defenses by Court.

766.207 - Voluntary Binding Arbitration of Medical Negligence Claims.

766.208 - Arbitration to Allocate Responsibility Among Multiple Defendants.

766.209 - Effects of Failure to Offer or Accept Voluntary Binding Arbitration.

766.21 - Misarbitration.

766.211 - Payment of Arbitration Award; Interest.

766.212 - Appeal of Arbitration Awards and Allocations of Financial Responsibility.

766.301 - Legislative Findings and Intent.

766.302 - Definitions; Ss. 766.301-766.316.

766.303 - Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Plan; Exclusiveness of Remedy.

766.304 - Administrative Law Judge to Determine Claims.

766.305 - Filing of Claims and Responses; Medical Disciplinary Review.

766.306 - Tolling of Statute of Limitations.

766.307 - Hearing; Parties; Discovery.

766.309 - Determination of Claims; Presumption; Findings of Administrative Law Judge Binding on Participants.

766.31 - Administrative Law Judge Awards for Birth-Related Neurological Injuries; Notice of Award.

766.311 - Conclusiveness of Determination or Award; Appeal.

766.312 - Enforcement of Awards.

766.313 - Limitation on Claim.

766.314 - Assessments; Plan of Operation.

766.3145 - Code of Ethics.

766.315 - Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association; Board of Directors; Notice of Meetings; Report.

766.316 - Notice to Obstetrical Patients of Participation in the Plan.