General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDoes the American public have any fucking right to know how Prince died?
I'll chime with my own resounding NO!
The man was a genius. He gave joy to millions. And now he's gone.
Nobody outside of his immediate family has any right to know how or why he passed.
Just one man's opinion.
RIP
In_The_Wind
(72,300 posts)Nye Bevan
(25,406 posts)maxsolomon
(33,345 posts)Recently we had a woman from a prominent local family who ran her car into a house in a VERY wealthy neighborhood right at dusk, then somehow stumbled off into the bushes and died before anyone saw her. She was found the next day about a 100 yards away.
There was speculation that she'd OD'd, but its been several weeks and nothing's been in the papers. the Toxicology should be back by now, so I presume they family didn't release the results.
Prince's family won't be able to keep it so quiet, I'd wager. He's too prominent.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)otherwise the public record will read, "Natural causes."
Yo_Mama
(8,303 posts)There's good reason for that - otherwise pretty nasty dealings could be covered up.
If, in the end, criminal charges are filed against someone over some aspect of this, or if a malpractice suit is filed, then to some extent it will be public record.
Mariana
(14,858 posts)and anyone may look at them or obtain a copy. Some states prohibit public access to death certificates for many years.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)Jackie Wilson Said
(4,176 posts)jberryhill
(62,444 posts)maxsolomon
(33,345 posts)But curiosity is in our nature as Apes. Particularly when the circumstances are mysterious.
I don't remember much speculation over Abe Vigoda's death - there wasn't much of a mystery.
Skink
(10,122 posts)Did I miss it?
maxsolomon
(33,345 posts)Wounded Bear
(58,670 posts)and it doesn't look like there is in this case.
FLPanhandle
(7,107 posts)Sorry, unless it's a death from obvious old age, people will be curious.
11 Bravo
(23,926 posts)dispute their right to have said curiosity satisfied.
blm
(113,065 posts).
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)we won't
HIPA... and today we were snorting coffee when the CNN reporter complained they are not telling him. DDDUUUHHHH
HIPA is problematic in case of a major incident though. But that is for another day. This one is not.
WillowTree
(5,325 posts).....that implies that those rules apply after the patient is dead. Further, a coroner would not, as far as I know, meet the definition of a "health care provider" that is restricted by HIPAA rules.
It remains to be seen, however, if a coroner can be compelled to release autopsy results in the face of a FOIA request.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)but they prefer not to when there is nothing suspicious and like to keep the family privacy. It usually does not come into play because most cases never get anywhere because it is just regular joes and none will ask for that,
Brickbat
(19,339 posts)HuckleB
(35,773 posts)Pakhet
(520 posts)muriel_volestrangler
(101,321 posts)for a death can be the subject of an inquest in Minnesota: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=390.32
So, the 'right' may not be absolute, but people can suggest to the sheriff that he does recommend an inquest. The death was indeed unusual, and without the results of the autopsy, is 'mysterious'.
And the idea, suggested above, that a death certificate could just say 'natural causes' and nothing more is deeply worrying. All kinds of things could be covered up in many cases if it that were true. (In England, doctors are told to never just put 'natural causes' alone; if a doctor does, it's immediately referred to the coroner).
Miles Archer
(18,837 posts)I've told the story before on DU, but decades ago, I was the third car in a 3-car pileup on the Bayshore Freeway in California.
My car was totaled, I was later told that 5 more MPH of speed would have meant that I'd be wearing the engine in my lap. I was VERY lucky, the worst I got was a nosebleed because when i saw impact coming I immediately put my hands up on the steering wheel to shield my face and ended up punching myself in the nose.
So here we are, the occupants of three mangled cars, standing on the side of the freeway. Four lanes of traffic are now slowing down to get a good look. And in one car there was a couple, maybe in their 30s. The woman was in the passenger seat and as they passed by she was laughing and pointing. That sickened me and put me in a state of rage.
But it's what the American public does. All they are doing right now is slowing down on the freeway to get a good look at dead Prince in his car.
Instead of respecting his life, his art, his privacy, they want to see a little blood.
You're not going to change that, and neither am I. But you are not them, just as I'm not, so hold onto that an be grateful for the person that you are.
REP
(21,691 posts)He was wealthy, fit, and was known to eat a healthy diet ... yet he died so young. My father died at 57 from cancer. I'm 50 now myself. Was it something scary and unavoidable?
I don't have alerts set, but I am a little curious but not because I want to point and laugh. Though I didn't really know him, he was a part of my life and we're close in age. It's hard articulate exactly, but my curiosity isn't prurient or mean-spirited.
Yo_Mama
(8,303 posts)But there may have been some degree of that here.
Which the police must investigate. And most localities would investigate a death such as this; unless a doctor is willing to sign off on a medical cause, they would probably autopsy. 57 is young to go.
To the extent that it becomes a legal issue, causes of death do come into the public eye.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)Published on Apr 21, 2016
'We could be Heroes': Prince made emotional tribute to David Bowie in his last live gig ... then urged fans not to 'waste any prayers'
Here is cell phone video of Prince- March 2016, concert in Toronto, Canada- piano & sings Bowies "We could be Heros"
dembotoz
(16,808 posts)they may have to keep the record straight.
waiting for the likes of pat robertson and his 700 club follies start
blathering about how the word prince is connected to the devil so prince really was
a worshiper of lucifer and died as part of gods vengeance....
that is as soon as someone wakes pat us and tells him who prince was....
Trust Buster
(7,299 posts)This is commonplace with celebrities. Sunshine is the best disinfectant.
DonCoquixote
(13,616 posts)his religion contributed to it,
I say this as a former Jehovah's Witness who knows that refusing surgery and dying was considered noble.
Little Star
(17,055 posts)My mother & step father (both in nursing home now) were/are JW's. He was an overseer at our hall.
I escaped as soon as I was old enough to get away.
pintobean
(18,101 posts)for whatever reason. I don't know why you would think his religion would matter.
Inkfreak
(1,695 posts)He was a star. People want to know. It is in our nature to want to fill in the blanks.
melman
(7,681 posts)But I'll read it when it comes out and so will you.
Mariana
(14,858 posts)In some states, death records are public records. If someone dies in one of those states, the public absolutely has the right to see the death certificate and find out how it happened.
Response to 11 Bravo (Original post)
EL34x4 This message was self-deleted by its author.
jwirr
(39,215 posts)would still be threatening to the general public.