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N.C. assembly considers overturning hospital records case

The state Supreme Court has ruled, but, unfortunately, the General Assembly might overturn the court's decision. The case involves the public's right to know about the operations of public hospitals. When Wilkes Regional Medical Center in North Wilkesboro bought a physician's practice, the local newspaper, the Wilkes Journal-Patriot, requested the details of the transaction. The hospital rejected the request, claiming the negotiated deal contained competitive health care information.

The newspaper filed a lawsuit under the state's Public Records Law to force the hospital to give up the information it requested. The newspaper contended that the business transaction would affect the hospital's bottom line, and that could affect charges for patient care as well as the fiscal viability of the hospital.

Read the editorial in the Wilson Times
Published Monday, April 09, 2007 9:40 PM by JoelCampbell

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