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Hey...

Just about everybody knows that VP Dick Cheney accidentally shot a guy during a quail-hunting expedition last weekend. Fortunately, it looks like the man will make a full recovery, despite what appears to have been a mild heart attack.

I'm not interested in debating who's right or who was responsible on this thread. What I do want to discuss is the "right to privacy" of people in the hospital.

There's been a great deal of "debate" in the media about why Cheney didn't immediately report what happened, who got shot, what hospital he was in, the man's condition, and the like. And of course, there are those who feel it's a big cover-up.

Here's my question: In light of the new HIPA privacy laws, wouldn't it have been a violation of the man's right to privacy for Cheney to hold a press conference and give details of what was going on? I've heard of local church pastors complaining because they cannot even find out if somebody from their church is in the hospital, unless an immediate family member calls them. How could Cheney have given any details without violating HIPA privacy laws?

What are your thoughts?