Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Why HIPAA Waiver Wasn't Needed After Orlando Shooting
Following Sunday's mass shooting that left 50 people dead and dozens of others wounded, there were reports that the White House waived federal privacy law restrictions that prevent healthcare organizations in Orlando from openly discussing patients cases. (Conn, 6/13)
Location was everything when it came to treating the victims from the Pulse nightclub mass shooting. "I think in trying to search for saving graces and silver linings, the fact that this tragedy happened within two blocks of one of the country's top Level 1 trauma centers was such an advantage," said Dr. George Ralls, director of health and public safety at Orange County Government, referring to Orlando Regional Medical Center. By Monday afternoon, 29 shooting victims remained at (Orlando Regional Medical Center), five of them in grave condition. Surgeons had performed more than 30 operations. (Miller, 6/13)
The editor of a major medical journal wants to spark more research on preventing gun violence, a field scientists say has long been limited by a congressional appropriations rider. (Young, 6/13)
The ex-wife of the man who shot up an Orlando gay club early Sunday quickly told reporters that he was bipolar and that 鈥渉e was mentally unstable and mentally ill.鈥 She and the imam of the Islamic center that the shooter attended both attributed the violence to mental illness. But mental-health experts say such acts rarely carry such tidy explanations. (Kurtzman, 6/14)