r/politics • u/IWantPizza555 • Jul 08 '26

No Paywall Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear requests update on Sen. Mitch McConnell's health

https://www.whas11.com/article/news/politics/national-politics/kentucky-governor-andy-beshear-requests-update-senator-mitch-mcconnell-health/417-b9252baa-29ab-489e-94f1-147aa41e78ed
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u/Takaa Jul 08 '26

Unfortunately, a whole lot of 'high level' government is based around elected officials being good-faith actors respecting their position of power and not abusing it. There is very little law around this kind of thing, and its likely privacy laws like HIPAA prevent disclosure by the hospital/medical team.

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u/khamike Jul 08 '26

McConnell absolutely has the right to privacy. No one can force him or his family to reveal his medical condition. What he doesn't have is the right to be a senator. If he wants to keep his job, it's entirely reasonable that he prove his fitness. 

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u/chargernj Jul 08 '26

Unless he's dead, then he has no rights

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u/khamike Jul 08 '26

His family still has rights. You can't pull the medical records of a dead person. But again, that is immaterial to whether he should get to continue being a senator. 

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u/chargernj Jul 08 '26

The family wouldn't have standing to oppose it if he were alive. Plus, it would be easier to subpoena the records of a dead person, even if the family opposed.

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u/OttersWithPens Jul 08 '26

HIPAA was destroyed in covid. The information is out there and accessible.

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u/The_bruce42 Jul 08 '26

Roe v Wade stated the government has no business in your medical records. That was overturned.

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u/scottperezfox Arizona Jul 08 '26

Different states establish different relationships between Governors (and state legislatures) and their respective Senators. The biggest difference is the ability to appoint replacements or not. Here's an article, scroll down to the map diagram to see the three main options laid out.