It's already been published, in the newspaper, so obviously, unless the newspaper later was prosecuted for doing so, printing such information did not violate the state law. The legislation must contain a provision allowing for publication of the date and a brief statement of the cause. Have you read the statute? As long as you observe "fair use" principles and cite your source, the newspaper, I wouldn't worry. The state may have a time limit or other provisions regarding the information. I know that such records are protected in Florida, and access to them in the state archives is restricted to immediate family or direct descendants. Again, a reading of the statute (and any subsequent modifications to it, if any) might clear up such questions. Karen Packard Rhodes Middleburg, Clay County, Florida On 2/17/2015 3:34 PM, Debbie Dale via wrote: > This question may have an obvious or simple answer….or not. I began > research on an Irish immigrant whose life ended in a state hospital where > patient records are protected by state legislation. > > > If I find information in an older issue of a newspaper (in the same state) > regarding this person’s hospital commitment date AND the reason for which > he was committed, would I be violating the law if I republished the > information? > > > I have yet to find any of his descendants, but have good reason for wanting > to find them and to pursue this. >

Hi Karen -- Thanks for your answer. Yes, I had read the section of the legislation and found no such provisions. The only thing that might apply is disclosure is/was possible when it was in the best interest of the patient. Perhaps it was so when this particular article was published (I have reason to think it was)-- but there are many such articles in older papers from the same state regarding different people, some on the sensational side, some not. However, I certainly don't want to violate any state legislation. On Tue, Feb 17, 2015 at 12:59 PM, Karen Rhodes via < [email protected]> wrote: > > > It's already been published, in the newspaper, so obviously, unless the > newspaper later was prosecuted for doing so, printing such information > did not violate the state law. The legislation must contain a provision > allowing for publication of the date and a brief statement of the > cause. Have you read the statute? > > As long as you observe "fair use" principles and cite your source, the > newspaper, I wouldn't worry. > > The state may have a time limit or other provisions regarding the > information. I know that such records are protected in Florida, and > access to them in the state archives is restricted to immediate family > or direct descendants. Again, a reading of the statute (and any > subsequent modifications to it, if any) might clear up such questions. > > Karen Packard Rhodes > Middleburg, Clay County, Florida > > > On 2/17/2015 3:34 PM, Debbie Dale via wrote: > > This question may have an obvious or simple answer….or not. I began > > research on an Irish immigrant whose life ended in a state hospital where > > patient records are protected by state legislation. > > > > > > If I find information in an older issue of a newspaper (in the same > state) > > regarding this person’s hospital commitment date AND the reason for which > > he was committed, would I be violating the law if I republished the > > information? > > > > > > I have yet to find any of his descendants, but have good reason for > wanting > > to find them and to pursue this. > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word > 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message