Are there any legal experts out there that know if approaching a patient in this manner crosses any legal lines? I'm thinking for it to be a HIPPA violation the reporter must disseminate confidential info not approved by the patient or the medical personnel/facility, but perhaps there are other avenues? STAT was created by John Henry, owner of the Boston Globe, a paper recognized for ethical journalism, so it might be time for a petition to the owner/newspaper to challenge their moral principles and demand they cut ties with this scum-sucking muckraker masquerading as a journalist.