A question for the Group:

[PCIntern]

In Re: reporting on the McConnell situation and the EMS response it has been stated, and I’m quoting the phrase “undergoing cardiac arrest”.

Does one actually “undergo” cardiac arrest? Is it limited to the time in which the individual may be revived prior to declaration of death? Or do we all eventually undergo cardiac arrest and do we do so permanently? If so, it is the longest thing we do.

And yes, this is a tongue-in-cheek post: I just think that for all the decades of misery that this fellow has inflicted upon tens of millions of Americans, this ridiculous situation in which the senator’s staff and the Party have created needs to be addressed/parodied/denigrated/laid waste to. Furthermore, this needs to be brought to the fore, and the outrage emanating from Republicans because a Democratic President wore a tan suit needs to be matched by our outrage that we are being lied to in this instance.

[GPV]

1. I wouldn't put it past them to keep people on

life support just to hold on to political power. I bet they do the same when Trump collapses, unless they decide to play the assassination card. Perhaps both will happen?

[rampartd]

2. maybe some arrest can't make bail

in that case, move into the light.

[Fiendish Thingy]

3. If he was dead a death certificate would be issued

If he was dead and a death certificate wasn’t issued, a doctor’s license would be in jeopardy, maybe more than one.

This is silly.

[PCIntern]

4. Did I say that he was dead?

I was speaking about the terms in the report or he may be comatose and they’re not telling us. It’s simple, really

[Fiendish Thingy]

5. If he is alive, does the rest matter?

If he was in a coma, Beshear wouldn’t get to appoint a replacement, and that’s what all these posts are about aren’t they?

He’s not available for floor votes, and that’s a bonus.

[PCIntern]

6. What matters here is that for the 96000th time

they’re lying anout and/or covering up serious matters. This is a symptom of a malignant disease. This country is presently in ICU itself either a highly questionable prognosis.

[Fiendish Thingy]

7. The president lies constantly, lying about McConnell's status isn't newsworthy in today's media landscape

Perhaps it should be, and that’s the real issue here, not whether McConnell’s family and staff are getting away with lying.

[nitpicked]

8. A reminder about HIPAA

https://www.cdc.gov/phlp/php/resources/health-insurance-portability-and-accountability-act-of-1996-hipaa.html

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 establishes federal standards protecting sensitive health information from disclosure without patient's consent.
(snip)

Before disclosing any protected health information (PHI) to reporters, written patient authorization is required. This includes sharing details about a patient’s diagnosis, treatment, or even their presence in the facility—unless another exception applies. Without this explicit permission, sharing PHI with the media is a HIPAA violation.
(snip)

Hospitals may sometimes release limited information, like a patient’s general condition and location, if the patient is included in the facility directory and has not opted out ((bolding mine)).
(snip)

((Some have translated this as "leaked information is fair game" (although leaking itself may be a HIPAA violation), and one can speculate based on that. However, apparently further facts CANNOT be released at this time (unlike e.g. the Epstein files), unless release is authorized.))

[PCIntern]

9. Of course...but

The family or Senatorial staff can say anything they want. HIPAA does not prevent me from telling the world about how my father was treated in the hospital.

I wasn’t expecting the medical people to say anything without consent, I just find it outrageous that an elected official’s condition is absolutely unknown at this time when his constituents are certainly entitled to that information and the family and senatorial staff are directly responsible for this situation.