ADVISORY/Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley Issue Media Alert: Palm Beach Gardens Community Hospital Seeks Gag Order to Control Media Coverage of Infection Cases.

Business Editors/Legal Writers/Health/Medical Writers

ADVISORY...for Thursday (June 19)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

Public Hearing on Gag Order Request is June 19, 11 a.m.,

in West Palm Beach

WHAT:     One of two firms defending Palm Beach Gardens Community
          Hospital, Inc. against more than 100 lawsuits alleging that
          the hospital did not do enough to control life-threatening
          post-operative infections has filed a motion with the
          Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit asking Judge
          David Crow to prohibit participating parties and their
          counsel "from making extra judicial comments to the print,
          radio and television that relate to:

          1) Evidence regarding the occurrences, incidents or injuries
             involved in the cases;

          2) The character, credibility or criminal record of any
             party, witness or prospective witness;

          3) The performance or results of any examination or tests,
             or the refusal or failure of a party to submit to such;
             and

          4) Counsel's opinions as to the merits of the claims or
             defenses of any party."

WHERE:    Courtroom 10-D -- Palm Beach County Courthouse

WHEN:     Thursday, June 19th - 11 a.m.

WHY:      Under Florida law, the media should be notified when a gag
          order is sought and the media has a right to be heard.

          Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley (SDSBS), the firm
          representing more than 100 former patients and surviving
          family members, is opposed to the requested gag order for
          reasons best enunciated in the Florida BAR's Rules of
          Professional Conduct:  "...there are vital social interests
          served by the free dissemination of information about events
          having legal consequences and about legal proceedings
          themselves. The public has a right to know about threats to
          its safety...It also has a legitimate interest in the
          conduct of judicial proceedings, particularly in matters of
          general public concern."