Forida ban on Cuban trained doctors passes Florida House vote

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 18, 2008
Contact: Manny Cid
Phone: (850) 488-1683
E-Mail: Manny.Cid@myfloridahouse.gov

LEGISLATION BARRING CASTRO-TRAINED DOCTORS FROM
PRACTICING IN FLORIDA PASSES house vote
~Legislation Now Heads to Senate~

TALLAHASSEE, FL – House Bill 685 sponsored by Representative Eddy González (R-Hialeah) was approved today by the Florida House of Representatives and is now awaiting passage in the Senate. The bill bans doctors trained in Fidel Castro’s apartheid medical schools from practicing medicine in Florida.

“Our students should not be contributing to, nor legitimizing such a blatant system of apartheid, nor should they be used in what is merely a propaganda and public relations ploy by a sworn enemy of America, which shares the unsavory distinction of other rogue states such as Iran and North Korea of being included on the State Department’s list of terrorist nations. I am certain that most Americans would cringe at the thought of their children participating in a Mahmoud Ahmadinejad or Kim Jong-il Scholarship Program," said Representative González. “Someone who puts their integrity aside, puts blinders on to the human rights abuses, ignores the hundreds of thousands of people executed, murdered, tortured or imprisoned by the Castro Regime, and goes to Cuba to receive a free medical degree from one of the last bastions of communist tyranny, doesn’t deserve the privilege to practice as a doctor in Florida.” Stated Rep. Eddy Gonzalez.
The vote was 107-3, with overwhelming bipartisan support.