AP: Doctors Calls Could Have Been Captured (in domestic spying)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/03/24/national/w155110S12.DTL

The National Security Agency would not have been barred from capturing communications between doctors and patients or attorneys and their clients during its controversial warrantless surveillance program, the Justice Department told Congress Friday.

Such communications normally receive special legal protections.

"Although the program does not specifically target the communications of attorneys or physicians, calls involving such persons would not be categorically excluded from interception," the department said in responses to questions from lawmakers.

... Michigan Rep. John Conyers, the House Judiciary Committee's top Democrat, complained about the department's evasiveness in answers to dozens of questions submitted to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Justice_Department_responds_to_House_questions_0324.html (pdfs)

Peace.

Is yet another violation of federal law: HIPAA.

We need stocks. Pillories. Gibbets. Pike Poles.

Heaven forbid that BushCo would let something trivial
like the law get in their way. :eyes:

most doctors have a link from their home computer to the hospital data base. This way they can check on lab work, orders, notes, etc in the middle of the night. If interceptions included home computers....well, so much for your privacy.

It's all bullshit. It's always been bullshit. Anybody that was around during VietNam or the McCarthy period ought to know it's bullshit. The laws are for for the "little people", the government does what it likes. Who is going to hold it accountable?

I just figured that they were listening to everybody and everything hoping to hear something interesting.

:banghead:

WASHINGTON - The National Security Agency could have legally monitored ordinarily confidential communications between doctors and patients or attorneys and their clients, the Justice Department said Friday of its controversial warrantless surveillance program.

Responding to questions from Congress, the department also said that it sees no prohibition to using information collected under the NSA's program in court.

"Because collecting foreign intelligence information without a warrant does not violate the Fourth Amendment and because the Terrorist Surveillance Program is lawful, there appears to be no legal barrier against introducing this evidence in a criminal prosecution," the department said in responses to questions from lawmakers released Friday evening.

The department said that considerations, including whether classified information could be disclosed, must be weighed.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060325/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/eavesdropping

Goodbye attorney-client privilege. Been nice knowing ya. :-(

"... because the Terrorist Surveillance Program is lawful ..."

Who decided that, and when?

I've GOT to stop sleeping six to seven hours every day. It's obvious that so much goes on while I'm in dreamland ...

"Because collecting foreign intelligence information without a warrant does not violate the Fourth Amendment and because the Terrorist Surveillance Program is lawful, there appears to be no legal barrier against introducing this evidence in a criminal prosecution," the department said in responses to questions from lawmakers released Friday evening.

That is the biggest load of crap masquerading as a 'constitutional argument' that I have ever heard in my life, bar none. Even when my sons were just little kids, they didn't try to pass off a whopper like that.

DOJ: NSA Could've Monitored Lawyers' Calls


WASHINGTON - The National Security Agency could have legally monitored ordinarily confidential communications between doctors and patients or attorneys and their clients, the Justice Department said Friday of its controversial warrantless surveillance program....

Since the program was disclosed in December, some skeptical lawmakers have investigated the Bush administration's legal footing, raising questions including whether the program could capture doctor-patient and attorney-client communications. Such communications normally receive special legal protections.

"Although the program does not specifically target the communications of attorneys or physicians, calls involving such persons would not be categorically excluded from interception," the department said.

The department said the same general criteria for the surveillance program would also apply to doctors' and lawyers' calls: one party must be outside the United States and there must be reason to believe one party is linked to al-Qaida. The department's written response also said that these communications aren't specifically targeted and safeguards are in place to protect privacy rights....


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060325/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/eavesdropping


"Safeguards are in place to protect privacy rights." It won't be long before this program is promoted as:

Warrantless Surveillance - providing safeguards for all Americans

it was an utter slap in their face. and there's this: "The department also avoided questions on whether the administration believes it is legal to wiretap purely domestic calls without a warrant, when al-Qaida activity is suspected. The department wouldn't say specifically that it hasn't been done."

there will be a day of reckoning though, once the democrats have a majority in either house, they'll be able to shed some light on these and other criminal acts.