Florida Judge strikes down healthcare law

A federal judge in Florida has declared the US healthcare reform bill passed in 2010 unconstitutional, in a ruling on a suit brought by 26 states.



Judge Roger Vinson ruled that the requirement that Americans purchase health insurance or face penalties violates an individual's rights.



Because mandatory individual insurance is so central to the bill, Judge Vinson struck down the entire act.



The case is likely to end up in the Supreme Court.



Judge Vinson is the fourth federal judge to rule on the constitutionality of the reform bill.



Two other judges have upheld the law but one judge in Virginia also struck down the individual mandate.



The US Department of Justice has said it will appeal against the ruling.