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Editorial
August 14, 1940
Mcallen Daily Press
Mcallen, Hidalgo County, Texas
What is this article about?
Short editorial by C. C. McDaniel Sr. criticizes the McAllen Municipal Hospital's refusal to provide patient lists to The Press due to objections from some local doctors, arguing it undermines the public's inherent right to information about public institutions.
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OCR Quality
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Full Text
Short Editorial No. 43
By C. C. McDANIEL, SR.
The predominating tendency toward secretiveness in civic affairs now apparently has reached our Municipal hospital.
A nurse at the hospital's switchboard this afternoon refused to give The Press a list of today's patients with the explanation that "some doctors of McAllen object to the names of some of their patients being turned over to the newspapers."
If this objection is eventually stamped with authoritative approval, the public will no longer be informed of the inner workings of their institution.
This is an age of precedent and perhaps it is a consistent tendency to withhold facts.
This, however, is the first time to our knowledge that any public institution anywhere has refused to divulge the news to which the people have an inherent right.
By C. C. McDANIEL, SR.
The predominating tendency toward secretiveness in civic affairs now apparently has reached our Municipal hospital.
A nurse at the hospital's switchboard this afternoon refused to give The Press a list of today's patients with the explanation that "some doctors of McAllen object to the names of some of their patients being turned over to the newspapers."
If this objection is eventually stamped with authoritative approval, the public will no longer be informed of the inner workings of their institution.
This is an age of precedent and perhaps it is a consistent tendency to withhold facts.
This, however, is the first time to our knowledge that any public institution anywhere has refused to divulge the news to which the people have an inherent right.
What sub-type of article is it?
Press Freedom
What keywords are associated?
Hospital Secrecy
Press Access
Public Information
Patient Lists
Civic Transparency
What entities or persons were involved?
C. C. Mcdaniel, Sr.
The Press
Municipal Hospital
Doctors Of Mcallen
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Opposition To Secrecy In Municipal Hospital Patient Information
Stance / Tone
Critical Of Institutional Secretiveness And Supportive Of Public Access To Information
Key Figures
C. C. Mcdaniel, Sr.
The Press
Municipal Hospital
Doctors Of Mcallen
Key Arguments
Tendency Toward Secretiveness In Civic Affairs Has Reached The Municipal Hospital.
Nurse Refused To Provide Patient List To The Press Due To Objections From Some Mcallen Doctors.
Authoritative Approval Of This Objection Would Prevent Public Knowledge Of Hospital Workings.
This Is The First Known Instance Of A Public Institution Refusing To Share Information The Public Has A Right To.