We need a uniform identifier mechanism in hospitals nationwide, that will automatically cause an alert when an unidentified person arrives at the hospital accessible to Law Enforcement. This will allow the victim's family to care for their loved one and get justice in a timely manner. While upholding HIPPA law and effectively serving the patient's needs of care.  This change can produce many unsolved missing cases to be solved. Although this bill will not bring my son back or take away the pain that consumes my heart, the thought of helping the next family get to their loved one before it's too late is a motivating factor of hope. Therefore on behalf of my son Anthony Isaiah Mejias and our family, we ask that you support this HB1313 bill.

Anthony was returning home from school in Tallahassee to Ft Lauderdale for Easter this past April 2nd. His bus made a connection stop in Orlando, but while trying to get on his connecting bus he misplaced his phone with his identification on the previous bus. Due to not having identification, He was denied access to the connecting bus and was left stranded in an unattended bus station in the middle of the night in a city he knew no one. Two hours later, He was fatally hit by a car that fled the scene and left him there. Unconscious he was transported to Orlando Regional at 2:30am. Having no ID on him he became an unidentified person to the hospital.
Upon my son not arriving at FT. Lauderdale as scheduled, I began the horrible process of filing missing reports and within hours arrived at Orlando to help search for my son. I personally went to Orlando Regional with a most recent picture and demographic information flyer to the admission desk for information and was told no one had been admitted with that description. However, he was there and was still alive when I was questioning the staff.
What haunts me is that the possibility of having my son gain consciousness after hearing a familiar loving voice or just simply holding my baby boy in his last moments was stripped from me over an administrative technicality that has been looked over for too long.
In the times we are in, that we have so many advances in so many areas we need to have one in place in the Emergency setting, in which its top objective is to save, treat and heal those in need. Ironically, My son had his emergency and medical ID information stored in his phone in case of an emergency, unfortunately, it was not in his possession. This can happen to anyone and actually does happen very frequently.
The inevitable will always happen but in 2022, with all the enormous advancements that have been made. We should have a more integrated process of helping trauma victims, families, and law enforcement adequately get the help needed.

HB1313 Bill needs to be passed to have a uniform identifier mechanism nationwide in all hospitals.