Patient Rights

Florida's treatment system is not a single category. The state licenses each program component separately, which means a facility can hold a license for residential treatment but have no authority to provide detoxification. A center can be licensed for intensive outpatient services but not for any residential care.

A recent court ruling in Palm Beach County, secured by Ryan P. Ingraham, ESQ, creates new protections for patients in Florida substance abuse treatment facilities.

On January 1, 2025, Florida law started explicitly protecting your right to housing, but discrimination against people taking life-saving medications remains a serious problem across the recovery community. As someone who has dedicated my career to protecting vulnerable individuals in the recovery system, I need to be direct: recovery house operators have no license to practice medicine and should not be deciding what medications a person needs for their recovery.

A landmark federal case in Florida recently exposed how these schemes work and how you can protect yourself. On July 14, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida entered a stipulated order against Evoke Wellness, LLC and its executives to settle Federal Trade Commission (FTC) allegations of deceptive marketing.

On January 5, 2026, the federal court finalized a landmark settlement in the cases against former teacher Robert Gayle. While Gayle’s individual actions were horrific, the massive payout from the City of Springfield proves that the law doesn't just punish the person who committed the abuse, it punishes the institution that allowed it to happen.

When a loved one leaves a rehab facility without permission, it can be terrifying. This situation, known as patient elopement, raises serious safety and legal concerns. You need clear, direct information about your rights and options. Patient elopement legal cases are complex, but you don’t have to face them alone. Understanding the legal landscape can help you protect your family and hold negligent facilities accountable.