“Meyer has a recurring burning sensation in his chest that doctors told him last week would raise cardiovascular risk factors if he continued to coach, the person told The Associated Press Sunday on condition of anonymity because Meyer’s health issues are confidential.”
—From a story by the Associated Press on the surprise resignation of Urban Meyer as head coach of the University of Florida’s football team because of health issues.
That’s right: Meyer’s medical issues are so confidential that the AP’s duty is to protect the anonymous source who violated the coach’s right of privacy (and maybe the law) by disclosing them. And, of course, the AP accepts no accountability for laundering this information, because the public has a right to know….wait a minute…it doesn’t, does it?
Thanks to James Taranto for the quote.
Absolutely atrocious that they would use that information. HIPPA rules are there for a reason and both the writer and the anonymous source have no justification for their actions.
I question I often ask reporters (for which they have no answer) is:
“Where does the public’s right to know go during a newspaper writers’ strike?”
GREAT question!
The legality of this is based on the source. The ethics questions is a no brainer.