- Prosecutors can subpoena Rush Limbaugh's doctors as part of an investigation into whether the conservative radio commentator illegally bought painkillers, a judge ruled Monday.
Judge David F. Crow ruled that Florida laws do not prevent doctors from talking with prosecutors if the discussion is relevant to the prosecution of a crime.
The decision gave prosecutors permission to subpoena doctors and their staff, but it also protected confidential material in Limbaugh's medical records. The judge noted that Florida law prohibits the discussion of a patient's medical condition and information disclosed by a patient during treatment.
Prosecutors and an attorney for Limbaugh both said they benefited from the ruling.
"The court allowed us to proceed, within the constraints of present law," said Mike Edmondson, a spokesman for the state attorney in Palm Beach County.
Roy Black, Rush Limbaugh's attorney, said in a statement that the decision upheld "our argument that the state cannot breach doctor-patient confidentiality just because it has obtained some medical records," Black said.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051213/ap_on_re_us/limbaugh_painkillers
File under liberal bias: As I drove home for work today my car radio was tuned to Newsradio610 Miami. This is the station that carries Rush from 12N to 3PM. The 4:30 news bump was that Rush's prosecutors had won half of their plea by allowing the doctor's to by sub-poenaed. Of course the fair and balanced (Sarc/off) news desk at 610 AM couldn't help themselves not to spin the truth. Now reading this thread it seems the prosecution won a meaningless battle, only to lose the war.