Saturday, December 08, 2012

WGHP reports City's assertions of cause for arrested man's hospitalization unchecked

UPDATE: (7:27 P.M.) In a fine example of a prompt and direct response, WGHP has replied that the assertion had not been substantiated beyond the police press release and they have updated their story to reflect that.

GREENSBORO, NC -- After an alleged struggle with Greensboro police that sent a man to the hospital, the police department issued a press release that attribute to unnamed "medical officials" a determination that the man had a preexisting condition that contributed to his need for hospitalization. This is how they put it:
Zenon San Martn Ramirez, 52, is in Moses Cone Hospital following surgery after EMS personnel determined he had dangerously low blood pressure when treating him for an abrasion to the face he received while resisting arrest. Upon arrival at the hospital, medical officials discovered Ramirez was suffering from a pre-existing [sic] medical condition that may have been aggravated by the encounter.  [Emphasis added.]
WGHP then regurgitated the assertion of a preexisting condition word-for-word:
Ramirez was taken to Moses Cone Hospital and medical officials said he was suffering from a pre-existing [sic] medical condition that may have been aggravated by the struggle. [Emphasis added.]
Did "medical officials" say this to WGHP? Or did a Greensboro Police Department employee write in a press release that medical officials said that and did WGHP just copy and paste third-hand unattributed information into their story without actually substantiating it? I've asked WGHP to comment and will update this post when I hear from them.

 

2 comments:

  1. Likely regurgitation; HIPAA regs would forbid any medical official from commenting to the media on specific medical info without consent of patient or relative.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks, Lex. I thought that might also apply, but was not confident of my understanding of HIPA. Note that WGHP has replied and updated their story to make it more accurate.

    ReplyDelete

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