Limbaugh: Keep my records private

CNN ^ | December 16, 2003 | Susan Candiotti and Rich Phillips

[mcg1969]

Embattled radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh is asking a Palm Beach County, Florida, court to keep his medical records sealed from prosecutors investigating whether he illegally purchased prescription painkillers.

The records were seized from two of his doctors' offices last month. The search warrants itemizing what was seized was filed in court December 4.

Two more search warrants were obtained but not executed, two law enforcement sources said.

Limbaugh's move came as prosecutors were getting ready to file a motion of their own to examine the records, as required by Florida law, prosecutors said.

[longtermmemmory]

proof that spellcheckers are not pufekt

[RS]

"Embattled radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh is asking a Palm Beach County, Florida, court to keep his medical records sealed from prosecutors investigating whether he illegally purchased prescription painkillers. "

Strange - One would think that showing the cops your prescriptions would CLEAR you of any criminal wrong-doing...

[ladyinred]

A person of lesser public stature and resources would not have a chance. Welcome to the REAL world Rush.

Oh, do you think the New York Times, CNN, the Today show et al would publish YOUR medical records?

[anymouse]

The "doctor shopping" claim is bogus as the DA has admitted that the only doctors offices served search warrents were Limbaugh's primary care doctor, his ENT specialist and a surgical clinic that performed his ear surgury. This is a normal process of doctors offices for everyone that has surgury to go through - nothing unusual about it at all. It would be a different thing if he saw the same type of doctor at different offices at the same time asking for duplicate prescriptions. The DA is on a fishing expedition and a compentent judge would toss this case out along with the DA for bringing such a weak case into his courtroom.

[ladyinred]

Oh my gosh! The new laws here regarding medical records are much more strict on patient privacy! Actually, too strict in some cases.

[thesummerwind]

His 'complete' medical records would not unlikely illustrate that his drug abuse caused his deafness. Sad......but possibly true.

[Always Right]

A person of lesser public stature and resources would not have a chance. Welcome to the REAL world Rush.

This is one of the first times in Florida history that this 'doctor shopping' law is being used. The first time it was used revolved around a case where couple of deaths occurred. A person of lesser stature would not even be investigated for this, especially where the drugs are being used for himself and not being distributed to others.

[Always Right]

The case they are setting up is a 'doctor shopping' case. The money laundering case is angle is laughable. Even the 'doctor shopping' charge may not stick, because the drugs were obtained for different ailments, one for the back and one for the ear.

[Always Right]

It would be a different thing if he saw the same type of doctor at different offices at the same time asking for duplicate prescriptions. The DA is on a fishing expedition and a compentent judge would toss this case out along with the DA for bringing such a weak case into his courtroom.

Which is why I am surprised they only used 2 of the 4 search warrents. Even if they show overlapping prescriptions, since they are for different purposes, the law is not applicable.

[RS]

". Even if they show overlapping prescriptions, since they are for different purposes, the law is not applicable."

If you go to one doctor complaing about pain in your right leg, then another for pain in your back, and a third for pain in your left leg - would that not be "different purposes" ? HHmmmmm?

[george wythe]

A person of lesser stature would not even be investigated for this, especially where the drugs are being used for himself and not being distributed to others

Welcome to the bizarro wold of the War on Drugs in Florida:

July 17, 2003.

A six-month investigation has culminated in the arrests of four people on warrants for "doctor shopping" while trying to obtain prescription drugs, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday.

"In the investigation, drug detectives learned that the suspects went to various doctors seeking prescriptions for narcotics," said Capt. Rick Ryan of the sheriff's office.

Detectives developed profiles on the suspects, who visited two or more doctors within a 30-day period, Ryan said.

[snip]

- Tuesday, Janice Plant Vandiver, 44, of Georgetown, was arrested and charged with 20 counts of withholding information from a practitioner and 20 counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. Her bond was set at $43,028.

- Also arrested Tuesday was Deanna Haney, 41, of Satsuma, on three counts of withholding information from a practitioner and five counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. Her bond was $12,512.

[Always Right]

If you go to one doctor complaing about pain in your right leg, then another for pain in your back, and a third for pain in your left leg - would that not be "different purposes" ? HHmmmmm?

It could be. I doubt if the left vs. right leg would fly, but if you obtained drugs for your back and drugs for your legs, you could get away with it. It depends on the courts interpret the law. But going to an ear specialists and also to your general practioner for your back, I think Rush has a solid defense against this law.

[Always Right]

Eash of those cases had additional elements besides the doctor shopping. They either had some fraud, where they likely duplicated the prescription and most of them were also caught attempting to sell the drugs.

[cynicom]

Red..Gbeez such hate and scorn, try a little antacid. I was trying to imply that at least Rush was a person of note and resources, he has a chance. A lesser person would be screwed. Next time read it a little more carefully.

[george wythe]

Eash of those cases had additional elements besides the doctor shopping. They either had some fraud,

Doctor shopping is fraud.

[RS]

"But going to an ear specialists and also to your general practioner for your back, I think Rush has a solid defense against this law."

So why try to hide your medical records if they could prove you innocent ? HHmmmmm?

To use them as any sort of defence you would have to provide them in any case...

[LittleJoe]

When the subject is an ordinary person, the drug warriors always say' "If he hasn't done anything wrong, what's he got to hide'?
It's funny they don't display this attitude when Rush is involved

It's easy to despise a hippy looking dopehead, and that is the picture the drug prohibition people have been pushing for decades.

The fact is that the majority of drug users look just as normal as anyone else, work and pay their taxes.

Rush Limbaugh is a drug addict. Bill Bennett is a gambling addict. Neither fits the picture we have of abusers, but they are.

That is the problem with this stupid crusader mentality that has turned our Constitution into toilet paper, and will eventually destroy our free republic.

[VRWC_minion]

Rush is lucky we have strict drug laws and enforcement. If not he wouldn't be seeking help.

[InvisibleChurch]

except for the xxxlintons, everyone's files ought to be closed

[anymouse]

thesummerwind - Since Nov 27, 2003

Back to DU for you.