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Journalism groups object to health officials removing publicly available database


9/15/2011

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For Immediate Release

Contacts:
Hagit Limor, SPJ President, (513) 852-4012,
hlimor@spj.org
Charles Ornstein, AHCJ President, (917) 512-0222,
charles.ornstein@propublica.org


INDIANAPOLIS – Leaders of three journalism organizations have objected to a federal government action taking down a once publicly available database containing important health services information.

The letter (included below) to Health Resources and Services Administration Administrator Mary Wakefield and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius was sent by the presidents of the Association of Health Care Journalists, Investigative Reporters and Editors, and the Society of Professional Journalists.

In sending the letter, the groups voiced their concern that removing the Public Use File of the National Practitioner Data Bank sets a bad precedent for information sharing and freedom of information. As the letter states, the file “provided invaluable information about the functioning of state medical boards and hospital disciplinary systems.”

SPJ President Hagit Limor strongly disapproved of the action, saying: “In one stroke, the very administration that promised greater transparency excluded information of obvious public value to patients across this country, information that had been accessible to journalists for years. This is clearly outrageous.”

AHCJ President Charles Ornstein expressed a similarly strong reaction: “We are troubled that the Obama administration appears to have placed the interests of physicians ahead of the safety of patients.”

The groups cited of special concern a letter from HRSA officials threatening monetary fines against a Kansas City Star reporter if he used information in the data set – information that was publicly available and previously published by HRSA.

“We are also stunned that a public servant has the hubris to threaten a health care reporter for doing his job,” said IRE President Manny Garcia. “HRSA should be delighted that journalists are using public information to help saves lives, but in this instance the response is: get lost or get fined.”

Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. For more information about SPJ, please visit www.spj.org.