New Leadership, Same Mission – Together Toward a Full, Clean Repeal of the Florida "Free Kill" Law

In the Florida Senate - April 30, 2025

Dear Advocates and Friends,

My name is Lauren Korniyenko, and I am honored to introduce myself as the new Executive Director of the Florida Medical Rights Association (FMRA). Like many of you, the fight to repeal Florida’s “Free Kill” Law is deeply personal to me. In August 2023, my own family suffered the devastating loss of a loved one due to medical malpractice and found that we had no way to hold anyone accountable because our loved one fell in the “Free Kill” category. I testified at every committee hearing for House Bill 6017 and Senate Bill 734, and was proud to stand with many “Free Kill” families in the House and Senate galleries as the repeal bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.

Before I look ahead, I want to pause and recognize the extraordinary leadership of Melody McDonald, who has carried this movement for nearly a decade. Ms. McDonald has guided countless families through the painful process of telling their stories, shaping them into the powerful advocacy that brought us to the threshold of repeal. I am humbled to carry the baton forward from her, and I know that FMRA’s progress would not exist without her tireless work. She will remain a key influence in FMRA in her role as Advisor to the Board. 

I also want to acknowledge the many professional organizations and individuals who stood with us this past session. Some testified in support of the repeal, others wrote op-eds in major media publications, and many used their media and social media platforms to inform and rally their followers. While I will not name them all here, please know that their partnership, public advocacy, and behind-the-scenes support were invaluable and deeply encouraging to the families and advocates engaged in this fight.

Finally, I want to thank you. Each phone call, email, testimony, and social media post you contributed during this past legislative season brought us closer to justice. Families who testified may have been the public faces of this fight, but every victory achieved came from the army of advocates behind them—thousands of Floridians who refused to stay silent. Together, we pushed further than this movement has advanced in more than 30 years.

Yes, we were disappointed when Governor DeSantis vetoed the repeal bill. But the fact that 93% of voting legislators supported the repeal shows that our leaders know this law is indefensible, discriminatory, and dangerous to public safety. The progress we made this session proves that the days of the Florida “Free Kill” Law are numbered.

As we look ahead, FMRA’s mission remains: to achieve a full, clean repeal of Florida’s “Free Kill” Law to restore equal access to justice and equal protection under the law for every Floridian and guest in this state. Our work will focus on three lines of effort:

1. Legislative Engagement – Strengthening our relationships with lawmakers to inform them how the “Free Kill” Law violates constitutional rights, denies justice to families, and undermines the safety of Florida’s healthcare system.

2. Media Engagement – Elevating the voices of “Free Kill” families and advocates to ensure their stories reach the public and shape the conversation around patient safety and justice.

3. Public Awareness – Expanding outreach through traditional and social media to educate Floridians about how the Florida "Free Kill" Law undermines their right to safe, accountable healthcare.

With your continued strength and support, I believe we will see a Florida “Free Kill” repeal realized — and SOON. Stay tuned for updates on how you can remain actively involved in the weeks and months ahead.

Thank you again for your courage, commitment, and persistence. Together, we will finish what those before us started.

With gratitude and determination,

Lauren Korniyenko 

Executive Director

Florida Medical Rights Association (FMRA)