O'Donnell has been away from his duties since Augusr of 2021, dealing with a serious medical issue. His current health status is unknown, as both O'Donnell and KPIX have been mum on the matter.
I LEARNED through a station source that CBS --which owns KPIX--has been involved in settlement talks between Dennis and his representatives. Presumably, talks involving a settlement have been successful and fruitful. It makes sense on both sides.
O'Donnell has been a Bay Area sports-TV fixture for over 40 years --he began as a producer at KRON in 1982 and joined PIX as an anchor in 2000. In addition to his anchor duties, O'Donnell did sideline reporting for 49ers pre-season hone games.
#Rich Lieberman/415 Media Exclusive
Its a convenient excuse but HIPPA provisions only apply to medical persons involved in the care of the patient. In the same vein as if you say to Joe Schmuck "You've violating my First Amendment Right". No, I'm not the government. 1st Amendment only applies to Government actions.They could (technically) comment but likely chose not to.
ReplyDeleteExactly. HIPAA applies to ‘Covered Entities’ - health care providers and health insurance companies. It doesn’t apply to private individuals or non-healthcare related entities.
DeleteTV stations have nothing to do with HIPAA. If his doctor shares his health information with the public without authorization, then it’s a hipaa violation. But if KPIX shares that exact same info, it’s definitely an egregious violation of employee privacy but it has nothing to do with HIPAA.
How about basic manners? Is that a good enough "excuse" for you? There is utterly no requirement that this gentleman tell anyone or that the station tell anyone about his private medical circumstances.
DeleteI agree with 4:53 and 6:03. Even with HIPAA off the table, KPIX sharing his health info I would be an “egregious violation of employee privacy.”
DeleteAnd 6:03 is right, even if he’s on a medical leave, there is no requirement whatsoever that he or his doctor share any health info with the station.
People use the term “HIPAA” generically to talk about disclosure of medical information, but there is separate California law that specifically requires employers to keep employee medical information confidential.
DeleteYou don't know what you're talking about. HIPPA DOES apply to kpix. it applies to all health information no matter who shares it. if a doctor shares it then its a HIPPA. If kpix shares it then its a HIPPA. If I share it then its a HIPAA.
Deleteso get your facts right.
11:02PM, what exactly is ‘a HIPPA?’ I’m not quite sure what it means what you say ‘then it’s a HIPPA.’
DeleteIt's sad to see a career end like this. O'D is a good guy, never mind how you feel about his on-air skills. The way CBS5 is now, Dennis is leaving at the right time. Now he won't have a front row seat with the crappy talent. Someone's looking out for him.
ReplyDeleteI hope he is feeling better and enjoys his retirement. I always enjoyed his work.
ReplyDeleteWhat medical condition?? After VDLC playing hookie claiming something but using this time to find love which didn’t work out more and more reporters just gone missing for days, months, year and never say goodbye to viewers. Andrea Borba is missing and now Sandhya Patel.
ReplyDeleteYet here you are...Sigh.
DeleteSad to hear of Dennis health issues. He was a good sports anchor and seems like a nice person.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to see him go. I hope his health improves. I liked him on air. You never know what a person is going through! Wish him and his family the best.
ReplyDeleteDennis was a competent sports director. He isn’t a jerk like Vern Glenn’s “the Raaaaaaiiiiders,” pompous like Larry Beil’s “with authority,” and tired like Mark Ibanez’s “that’s the sporting life.”
ReplyDeleteI am a little unclear on this post, Rich, because you wrote "... the veteran sports anchor officially cleaned out his desk...". My question is, was it actually HE who cleaned out his desk in person, or was it someone else from his family or a coworker, maybe? I mean, I question this for clarity because if he is having such an allegedly serious medical issue, how is it that he was physically able to actually go back to the station to clean out his desk? And if he did so, surely there would be pics, etc, from others in the building, such as coworkers, who would have taken pics for the last time, even probably selfies together with him? So despite my having complete faith in Rich here, I just sense that something is missing here....
ReplyDeletetoo bad. good guy and handsome young man.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget the great Mike Shumann. What ever happened to that guy?
ReplyDeleteMike Shumann stole a Warriors coaches jacket that was near courtside https://warriorswire.usatoday.com/2018/07/22/warriors-stolen-jacket-mike-shumann-story/
DeleteTrue wealth is a persons health. Without it. Nothing else matters. Godspeed!
ReplyDeleteWatch archive video of Dennis from the year before his disappearance. His issues with enunciantion and vocal delivery make it clear he is suffering a serious neurological issue. And it's something that runs in the family. I wish him well, but he isn't going to recover in any way to return to broadcasting.
ReplyDeleteCompanies in California cannot even say if a former employee is eligible for rehire. If CBS/KPIX were to release personal medical information, the check issued would be in the seven figures. But most importantly, it's private matter not a right to know issue. It's simply a "dirty laundry" topic.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck Dennis, and as said above, Godspeed.........jf
ReplyDeleteThat is too bad about his health, O'Donnell was probably the last good Bay Area sports reporter.
ReplyDeleteI forgot that Mike Shumann took a jacket belonging to a Golden State Warriors security official, who is also Stephen Curry's personal bodyguard, and didn't return until called out about the video evidence the next day.
ReplyDelete