FoxNews Channel Debates Medical Privacy Rules

Guests on FoxNews Channel's "Hannity & Colmes" yesterday debated the Clinton administration's medical privacy regulations, which HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson is currently reviewing. Guests Christopher Ruddy, editor of the online newsletter Newsmax.com, and Robert Weiss, a Democratic attorney, discussed the extent to which the rules will give government agencies access to private medical files, and what the agencies can do with that information. Ruddy said the HIPAA law "would create a unique health identification number for every individual in the country, track them from birth to death. If you've ever been to a psychiatrist, someone in your family's ever had an abortion, you've ever had a drinking problem, any ... sexually transmitted diseases, the government would have all of that information and could look at it without your consent." Weiss said, "[T]hese regulations are opposed by the insurance industry, and this [the Bush administration's delay] is a big payback for the insurance industry that the Republicans are now taking these regulations, which have had 50,000 public comments, have been through a variety of different lawyers and different commentators, very well thought-out. They're supported by virtually every privacy group." Co-host Sean Hannity said that "doctor[s] will have to [release], as mandated by law, ... [the] private personal medical records of every U.S. citizen. There will be no privacy anymore! It will no longer exist! I would think liberals would be upset about that" ("Hannity & Colmes," FoxNews, 3/21). Thompson will be a guest on "Hannity & Colmes" this evening. Check local listings for show times.