Public Records | The Health Law Firm Blog

Enforcing Your Right to Access Public Records

By Lance O. Leider, J.D., The Health Law Firm

Citizens of the state of Florida enjoy broad access to the public records created by state agencies. Those records range from information on state contracts to certain police records to information on state licensees. Almost all records created by or held by state agencies on you are considered public records with certain limited exceptions.

Access to public records is guaranteed by both Article I, Section 24, of the Florida Constitution and Chapter 119, Florida Statutes. Those laws state that every person has the right to access any public record made or received in connection with the official business of any public […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:50-04:00June 1, 2018|In the Know, Public Records, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Removal of Past Criminal History from Florida Department of Health Practitioner Profile

By Lance O. Leider, J.D., The Health Law Firm and George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

By statute, the Florida Legislature requires that the Department of Health (DOH) maintain an online practitioner profile for medical doctors, osteopathic physicians (DOs), chiropractors (DCs), advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and podiatric physicians.

Click here to learn more about these profiles from the DOH’s website.

However, the same law requires those health professionals to immediately update the profile when there is a change and to verify its accuracy.

What Does the Practitioner Profile Contain?

DOH practitioner profiles contain information such as education, disciplinary history, practice […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:52-04:00June 1, 2018|Department of Health, Public Records, The Health Law Firm Blog|

After Investigation Has Ended, Even Investigator’s “Mental Impressions” Are Subject to Release Under Public Records Act

The foregoing case summary was prepared by Mary F. Smallwood, Esquire, of The Administrative Law Section of The Florida Bar.

The City of Avon Park (“City”) terminated Michael Rowan’s employment as Chief of Police. In the subsequent administrative hearing, at issue was Rowan’s investigation of certain city council members and alleged deletion of certain information from his work computer.

An investigator with the State Attorney’s Office was called in to investigate those issues; he prepared a report of his findings. The City subpoenaed the investigator to appear as a witness at the administrative hearing on Rowan’s termination, and to bring his report, which the City wanted to rely on. The State sought a circuit court order quashing the subpoena issued to the […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:54-04:00June 1, 2018|Administrative law, Public Records, The Health Law Firm Blog|