Prosecutors Can Examine Limbaugh Records

Yahoo/AP ^

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Prosecutors can examine Rush Limbaugh's medical records to determine whether he should be charged with "doctor shopping" for prescription painkillers, a judge ruled on Tuesday.

Palm Beach Circuit Judge Jeffrey A. Winikoff denied the conservative commentator's request to keep the records sealed.

Limbaugh's attorneys had argued that the seizure of the records from doctors in Florida and California violated the radio host's privacy. Investigators obtained the records last month after discovering that Limbaugh received more than 2,000 painkillers, prescribed by four doctors, at a pharmacy near his $24 million Palm Beach mansion.

Doctor shopping refers to looking for a doctor willing to prescribe drugs illegally, or getting prescriptions for a single drug from more than one doctor at the same time.

The Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office began investigating Limbaugh last year, after his former maid told them she had been supplying him prescription painkillers for years.

Limbaugh recently admitted his addiction, stemming from severe back pain, and took a five-week leave from his afternoon radio show to enter a rehabilitation program.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

If any of Limbaugh's medical information finds its way to the press, the prosecutor should be charged with a crime.

[Peach]

It's a given the info in his files will make their way into the press.

We don't have freedom of speech with regard to the campaign finance matter, but what used to be our complete confidence that our medical records would never be available to anyone but our doctor has been eroded.

[SeeRushToldU_So]

The witchhunt continues.

[pgkdan]

This isn't right. This is a complete invasion of privacy.

[m1-lightning]

I guess medical privacy only pertains to abortions.

[Destro]

I have never heard of such a privacy right in regards to medical records. Based on what?

[octobersky]

Exactly! They are continuing their ceaseless efforts to silence a strong conservative voice!

[TommyDale]

Hopefully, Limbaugh's attorney will appeal this ruling.

[m1-lightning]

hippa laws, Roe vs. Wade, etc.

[dead]

"doctor shopping"

“Can I interest you something along the lines of this Asian fellow… Tokyo-educated, specializes in orthopedics, dressed out in a spiffy white lab coat… Or if you’re looking to spend a little less, I can show a slightly pudgy El Salvadoran, with a hand-written diploma from The University of San Miguel… or if you’re really looking for a bargain, a have a Nigerian woman in the back with some herbs and goat blood…”

[al baby]

I guess medical privacy only pertains to abortions.



And to Bill Clinton

[Destro]

Asking out of ignorance-my question was not a comment on Rush's problems. I just assumed that if a judge ok's it the govt can look at your records.

[adam_az]

I have never heard of such a privacy right in regards to medical records. Based on what?

Property rights. Individual liberty. A better question is, when we gave the Gubmint the right to intrude into every aspect of our personal life, and have immediate access to any shred of personal data?

[Solson]

Which is exactly what Roy Black is now wishing for. One leak, minor or major, by the prosecutor's office will unleash a torrent of lawsuits by Limbaugh's legal team. In the end, Rush might own Palm Beach.

They're playing with fire and only have a little bucket of water.

[OXENinFLA]

Do you have an egg-timer handy?

[Peach]

If you've ever watched a Law and Order or other legal show, you would hear repeatedly that medical records could not be released. Doctors will not talk to lawyers or cops because our medical history is confidential, as confidential as a confession to a priest.

[adam_az]

Expect them on The Smoking Gun in time for Christmas.

[Bob Eimiller]

This is Palm Beach Florida....the deep underbelly of the Democrat party... Political facism is obviously at work.

The RAT party is doing what they do best. If they ever get back into real power we may have to AGAIN rally around the immortal words of Patrick Henry.....

Clintonism has soiled the core of our society.

[Destro]

If I don't know the answer to the first one why would I know the answer to the second one?