What is of greater importance in your opinion? As alot on here know I'm the Coroner for the 2and largest county in Arkansas. Unfortunately we are in a "hotspot" right now with this covid19 pandemic. So as you can imagine I'm getting daily calls from the press wanting a update. The problem is multiple reporters from the same outlet calls each one wanting more information. And I believe they have a right to know basic information. However I feel more strongly about the right of privacy to the deceased and the grieving family. Most of these families don't want their names medical hx, address on the 5o'clock news. Most of the press want age,sex,ethnicity, and city of residence. Which I have no problem providing, but now they are wanting names medical history and next of kin information. So they foia the report when I close the case I have to provide that document. I finally released some reports today, but I blacked out the nok info and all medical history that did not contribute to the death. The press flipped, they say I do not have that right. I believe my main duty is ti the family not the press.
We have had 95 deaths so far this month only 21 of those are covid related.. we average 140 per month normaly

Im not talking about a case that poses a public health risk. In that case my duty is to public safety.

So from the outside looking in, do you feel a family of a covid death has a right to privacy or does the press have the most rights? Just looking for a unbiased opinion

I don't know, but personally I'd be leery of posting the info about yourself that you have posted along with this question on a public forum. And I don't mean to come across as a jerk when I say that either.

I see no reason they need or should have information concerning ethnicity. Age, gender, ok but that would be all I would give them

I don't know the laws, does HIPA apply to the deceased? Personally, I wouldn't tell the press anything that they don't need to know.

Nothing in his post was revealing, unless you're thinking of someone retaliating in some way...which wouldn't be justified.

Here they report age, gender, and county of residence.

" age,sex,ethnicity, and city of residence."

I agree with you on this. I would even consider if they had a preexisting condition but I wouldn't say what it was without the families consent. You did right.

Yes im pretty sure it does. When my dad died he didnt have anyone listed that could see his medical files. No emergency contact or anything. We know he died from kidney failure as that is what the death certificate said. But we also suspect he may have had cancer, he wouldnt share that info with anyone and got sick real quick and died pretty fast before he could tell anyone anything. I was curious about the cancer just in case it may run in the family. Docs told us we would have to get a judge to order a release of his medical records before they could share anything more than the death certificate.

My condolences...I thought maybe it was that way.

I'm probably just paranoid, but the way things are lately I have seen so many local officials wind up in hot water for some insignificant thing they posted on social media so what I said was just a word of caution. I agree, I personally see nothing wrong with the question either.

Do 'Hipaa' rules not apply here ? If you are under no obligation to reveal anyone's personal information, don't. The media can go pound sand.

The news media is literally like a bunch of buzzards picking at their bones.



Charlie

Why wesley? As an elected offical its public record. That's part of the problem. I certainly don't have anything to hide, just completing a balancing act.

HIPA protects medical records unless it is quoted in the coroner report. If my office just deferred the call they could not get the records. But if I did that I wouldn't be doing my job. Funny thing about this though the opioid epidemic seems to have gone away, in the press at least. I didn't get daily phone calls and email request about those deaths or any other natural causes deaths. The only other time I had a problem with the press is when then wanted a report for every child death in the last 5 years i had this same problem with feeling the family has a right to privacy.

I think it important for the press and public to know, 100%. But the identification features of these reports are what I'm struggling with. If they just wanted the full report with out the identifying information I would feel allot better. These people should not be drug though the mud because they had covid 19. Guess my morals just get in the way sometimes. If my family died of natural causes and the press showed up at my house it would not be the same conversation..

Dont tell them anything.

Getting honest data on infections, deaths, and recoveries has been very difficult in NJ. The public should have access to data that helps them understand this disease and assess for themselves what measures they should be taking.

Aggregate data about age, cause of death, and underlying conditions should be released to the press. Information that identifies individuals should remain private. You are doing the right thing. If the press believes it has a legal argument for receiving personal data, let them go to court to get it. Unless your county solicitor can show you where you have a duty to release the information, I would continue to do what you are doing.

Isn't there a county attorney who can advise you on what information you are legally required to provide under an FOIA request?

I was thinking along the same lines, looking for advice from a trapping forum, not a regional coroner or who ever you're accountable to?

Alway be for the family, press doesnt NEED NOTHING that doesnt concern them!!! they put enough fear into people. i think asking the family would be wise, hey what info do you want released is a no brainer.. be sensitive to their needs. The press just wants a story if you havnt figured that out yet.

and then...ONLY minimum needed info. of course they want every single little detail.. its the press they want the juicy story.

here is my second best opinion...

I'm accountable to no one except the people. The question isn't about law I k ow it very well, I promise my county attorney is involved. Lol. he is more along the lines of just give it to them and save the hassle. I just don't agree with the personal information release.. I guess this law is about like antler size it's lies within the beholder.

Make them get their information from the health department. Remove yourself from the loop.