Nicklaus Children’s Hospital issued the following statement on the constitutional challenge of the recently passed trauma legislation:

The statement from Narendra Kini, MD, Chief Executive Officer, Nicklaus Children’s Health System, is as follows:

The hospital is challenging Section 395.4025(16)(c) of the recently passed trauma legislation as part of its commitment to fight for the children of Miami-Dade County. The hospital is specifically challenging the unconstitutional special law because it does not have statewide application and it exclusively targets one region – Miami-Dade County. This special law is devastating to the standard of care for the region’s children. Furthermore, this law will only fragment trauma care and decrease pediatric subspecialty expertise, as pediatric trauma centers afford children a better chance at survival. The challenge also comes on the grounds that Kendall Regional Medical Center did not complete the appropriate statutory requirements to receive a Level I trauma designation. Nicklaus Children’s Hospital will continue to fight for all children and their right to receive the highest level of pediatric care.