FOX News reporter Major Garrett reports the neurosurgeons will NOT comment on Johnson operation.

[Radio_Lady]

There are no plans to discuss his condition, treatment, and prognosis.
This is highly unusual in high profile operations. For goodness sake, we got to hear about Terri Schiavo every day.

I am furious. What is going on at this Washington DC hospital?

Garrett stated he was NOT ALLOWED in the Starbucks located in the hospital because he is with the media!

I don't like this at all.

On edit: FOX had a neurosurgeon who agreed this is a developing situation -- there could be more bleeding -- they need time to even evaluate his condition.

I guess I'm just used to doctors doing news conferences immediately after important operations.

It is the age of INSTANT INFORMATION and when it doesn't happen, I find it suspicious. I'll try to ease up on that feeling.

[underpants]

1. uh..... HIPAA????

:shrug:

[Warpy]

11. "No comment" on high profile patients has been in place

since the mid 60s when I started in healthcare.

If the family doesn't want reporters to know all the details, the hospital, physicians, nurses, and other personnel will not divulge them.

HIPAA refers more to information sharing with insurance companies and other outside facilities. It just codified what most of us were already doing.

[sir_captain]

12. That's not entirely accurate

HIPAA certainly has sections devoted specifically to privacy issues relating to PHI.

[Kagemusha]

2. Yeah, HIPAA changed the landscape.

I'd expect to see this stuff only in medical journals, if at all.

[sir_captain]

4. That wouldn't be kosher with HIPAA either

since it wouldn't be anonymous

[Kagemusha]

8. Some aspects probably could be reported anonymously.

But, I'll leave it at that. If I was a doctor or read medical journals personally I would have specific knowledge. I mean, on the face of it, I have no idea how medical journals manage at all, post-HIPAA. It's not my trade so I'll have to live with ignorance in this matter.

Best wishes for the Senator.

[sir_captain]

9. They manage fine

as long as informed consent is obtained using proper HIPAA guidelines, there's no problem using that data in a journal article. There are IRBs (Institutional Review Boards) at every clinical research site to provide oversight to make sure that the privacy rights of research participants are being maintained at all times.

I can tell you that it's a heck of a lot of extra paperwork and makes study design more difficult and perhaps slightly less powerful, but it's also obviously a good thing.

In any case, there are far fewer case studies in medical journals nowadays than there used to be--primarily because of the the anonymity issues.

[sir_captain]

3. You have no right to be so furious

Regardless of the fact that the man is a senator, he has the same right to privacy that anyone else has. I am sure that when there is something important to report, he or his family will make a statement. Until then, be thankful that your own medical records are subject to the same privacy his are.

[RB TexLa]

5. Even a US Senator has the right to keep medical information

private. Many people would like to know but HIPPA applies to all. I certainly wish to know all I can about Sen. Johnson's condition but if it is his wish to not release all the information for the country to discuss, I can respect that.

[Straight Shooter]

6. Imagine the zoo if the reporters were allowed in.

They would be grabbing everybody, asking questions, and speculation would be running rampant. It would change the atmosphere of the hospital and make everyone tense, and I don't think that's a good thing for Senator Johnson nor his caretakers.

Then of course there is the privacy issue, and also that no one really knows for certain anything at this point. I would not be willing to comment one way or the other, with so much at stake.

[rodeodance]

7. i think this is good. (to keep it low keyed for now-)

[Radio_Lady]

10. Thanks, everyone! I'm going to brew some chamomile tea and put on soothing music...

Weather outside is frightful.
School lockdown in New Jersey
Hikers still missing in Oregon
Senator Johnson has surgery in Washington, DC
Report: Princess Diana's death in 1997 termed an accident, but family says they don't agree.
Terrorists in Great Britain go uncharged -- was all of this seizure of "liquids and gels" emphasis on flights even necessary?

Happy Holidays -- I definitely need to chill out..................

Jon Stewart's writers have a lot to do today!