Does the American public have any fucking right to know how Prince died?

[11 Bravo]

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.

[Skink]

1. Amen

RIP

[In_The_Wind]

2. None at all. Let the man rest in peace. Leave his family alone to grieve their loss in privacy.

[Nye Bevan]

3. Aren't autopsy results generally considered public record? (nt)

[maxsolomon]

11. Not really sure, if there's no Foul Play I don't think so

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]

14. Only if this becomes criminal,

otherwise the public record will read, "Natural causes."

[Yo_Mama]

23. Death certificates are public records, and are supposed to be accurate.

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]

33. In some states death certificates are public records

and anyone may look at them or obtain a copy. Some states prohibit public access to death certificates for many years.

[nadinbrzezinski]

35. California does unless they are part of a criminal case

[Jackie Wilson Said]

4. No, now that you mention it.

[jberryhill]

5. No, and I can't figure out why it matters

[maxsolomon]

6. No, not a "right"

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]

8. When did Vigoda pass?

Did I miss it?

[maxsolomon]

10. in January, at 94

http://www.abevigoda.com/

[Wounded Bear]

7. Only if there is criminality involved...

and it doesn't look like there is in this case.

[FLPanhandle]

9. As much right to know how Cobain, Bowie, Lennon, Robin Williams, etc. died.

Sorry, unless it's a death from obvious old age, people will be curious.

[11 Bravo]

17. I don't dispute anyone's right to be curious. I DO ...

dispute their right to have said curiosity satisfied.

[blm]

12. and mine, as well, 11 Bravo.

.

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. And in the end, if things work the way legally they should

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]

15. I've never seen anything in the HIPAA privacy rules.......

.....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]

18. They could be compelled under FOIA

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]

28. It's generally recognized that HIPAA doesn't apply to coroners or autopsies.

[HuckleB]

16. Meta-World-Prince.

[Pakhet]

19. no we don't. and can someone tell me how to trash a keyword? n/t

[muriel_volestrangler]

20. As is fairly typical for British-derived systems, "unusual or mysterious circumstances"

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]

21. The American public still studies Jayne Mansfield crash scene pics to see if they can spot her head

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]

38. There's something else, too

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]

22. Unless there is foul play or illegality, no.

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]

24. final results of the autopsy tests will take some months. I bet the family will share the results.

His music will be with us forever.

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]

25. no but then again...if some nutjob smears his name with bullshit rumours.....

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]

26. Yes, he's a celebrity and it's a matter of public record and taxpayer dollars being expended.

This is commonplace with celebrities. Sunshine is the best disinfectant.

[DonCoquixote]

27. if and only if

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]

29. Bingo!....

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]

31. We all have the right to refuse medical treatment

for whatever reason. I don't know why you would think his religion would matter.

[Inkfreak]

30. Having the right to know and being curious are totally different.

He was a star. People want to know. It is in our nature to want to fill in the blanks.

[melman]

32. Maybe not

But I'll read it when it comes out and so will you.

[Mariana]

34. It depends on the laws of the state in which he died.

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.

[jwirr]

37. Not as long as it is not a highly communicable disease that

would still be threatening to the general public.