Readers consider medical privacy, where sharks rank in food webs

Patient privacy

People with chronic conditions are taking medical research into their own hands, Betsy Ladyzhets reported in “Patient as scientist” (SN: 3/23/24, p. 22).

Connor, a patient highlighted in the story, asked to be identified by only his first name. But the story prints the full name of his spouse. “How exactly does that maintain [Connor’s] medical privacy?” reader Tom Begich asked.

Connor’s spouse, Nicole Bruno, agreed to print her last name because it differs from Connor’s, Ladyzhets says. As part of Science News’ fact-checking process, Ladyzhets also confirmed other details with the couple before publication.