that he too had fought lung cancer. Was that necessary? Lo and behold, of all people in the world, Bookman just happen to have also dealt with the big "C". I found that so corny on the writers' part. No doctor would reveal private medical information like that. "The Buddy System" my ass!!! I would have reported that damn doctor for telling ANYONE abt my illness. I could see the doctor talking with Carl abt other patients that have fought lung cancer and won and if Carl would like to speak with those persons. Or join a support group. I know Carl was kinda hard-headed, but still that could have been shown rather than have Bookman.

that he too had fought lung cancer. Was that necessary? Lo and behold, of all people in the world, Bookman just happen to have also dealt with the big "C". I found that so corny on the writers' part. No doctor would reveal private medical information like that. "The Buddy System" my ass!!! I would have reported that damn doctor for telling ANYONE abt my illness. I could see the doctor talking with Carl abt other patients that have fought lung cancer and won and if Carl would like to speak with those persons. Or join a support group. I know Carl was kinda hard-headed, but still that could have been shown rather than have Bookman.

One thing I didn't understand about that episode is that how did the doctor know that Carl and Bookman knew each other?

One thing I didn't understand about that episode is that how did the doctor know that Carl and Bookman knew each other?
I think Bookman said to Carl how that came abt. He did say that the doctor and him have been friends for years, but for the life of me, I can't remember exactly what he said to Carl abt how the doctor knew Bookman and Carl knew each other.

I actually liked it because you saw a caring side of Bookman. I thought it was very thoughtful of Bookman to help Carl out because he was feeling down and depressed. It's always good to have a support system when your going through something like that.

It was very unrealistic for a doctor to go and tell an ex-patient about another patient without the other person consent. But it's television, everything can't be true to life.

That was the first time I took Bookman seriously. And so did the audience. I had my hand over my mouth in shock when Bookman revealed that.

I have to agree with Irene here - the whole scene was like straight out of a PDA. The actors did the best they could but the whole scene just didn't ring true. Today that doctor would be charged with violating patient/doctor privacy rights. :mad:

I actually liked it because you saw a caring side of Bookman. I thought it was very thoughtful of Bookman to help Carl out because he was feeling down and depressed. It's always good to have a support system when your going through something like that.

It was very unrealistic for a doctor to go and tell an ex-patient about another patient without the other person consent. But it's television, everything can't be true to life.

I have to agree; it's only TV.

I have to agree; it's only TV.
You can make that statement to everything that is said on this board. So why say anything? That is what DISCUSSION on this board is all abt.

If People can treat Soap Operas like real life why can't we do that with Sitcoms???-lol

You can make that statement to everything that is said on this board. So why say anything? That is what DISCUSSION on this board is all abt.


Calm down, Chica. you're worse than solomon. Geez....
And just for discussion sake, I don't agree with what you said.

I have to agree with Irene here - the whole scene was like straight out of a PDA. The actors did the best they could but the whole scene just didn't ring true. Today that doctor would be charged with violating patient/doctor privacy rights. :mad:
It was preposterous to say the least. You are so correct in stating that it doesn't ring true. No doctor whatsoever reveals anything like that. That is patient/doctor privilege. I have never had a doctor reveal anything to my family. If he/she did, I would have them strung up so high with a violation of the medical and ethical codes. Same thing with attorney/client privilege. It just doesn't happen, and those who have done what Carl's doctor did is a PURE VIOLATION of those codes. No doctor in their right mind would take such a risk at losing their license and being fined.

Carl was tooooo dumb to follow up on that crap and tell some sh*t to that doctor. That would have been a great scene.

Seeing Bookman being "caring" or whatever you want to call it could have been done in another way without showing a scene where it was just plain ludicrous. :rolleyes: Those writers were too lazy to come up with a better way of making this second episode work. "Hey let's just have Bookman say that the doctor called him up and he can be his 'buddy'..." Any person who believes that storyline and finds it acceptable is stupid.

I know that most agree with me on this issue. It sure as hell looked like Good Times being preachy again and it looked like a pure public service announcement. :rolleyes:

It would have been better if Carl told the bartender and Bookman was in the back of the bar and overheard . That would have made more sense.

It was preposterous to say the least. You are so correct in stating that it doesn't ring true. No doctor whatsoever reveals anything like that. That is patient/doctor privilege. I have never had a doctor reveal anything to my family. If he/she did, I would have them strung up so high with a violation of the medical and ethical codes. Same thing with attorney/client privilege. It just doesn't happen, and those who have done what Carl's doctor did is a PURE VIOLATION of those codes. No doctor in their right mind would take such a risk at losing their license and being fined.

Carl was tooooo dumb to follow up on that crap and tell some sh*t to that doctor. That would have been a great scene.

Seeing Bookman being "caring" or whatever you want to call it could have been done in another way without showing a scene where it was just plain ludicrous. :rolleyes: Those writers were too lazy to come up with a better way of making this second episode work. "Hey let's just have Bookman say that the doctor called him up and he can be his 'buddy'..." Any person who believes that storyline and finds it acceptable is stupid.

I know that most agree with me on this issue. It sure as hell looked like Good Times being preachy again and it looked like a pure public service announcement. :rolleyes:
Did I say PDA!? :rofl: I meant PSA. There's a good Freudian slip for you. :lol:

Did I say PDA!? :rofl: I meant PSA. There's a good Freudian slip for you. :lol:
:lol: I knew what you meant girlfriend. At least you can laugh at yourself. Some people can't. :lol:

I have to agree with Irene here - the whole scene was like straight out of a PDA. The actors did the best they could but the whole scene just didn't ring true. Today that doctor would be charged with violating patient/doctor privacy rights. :mad:
When I saw that episode recently I found it quite disturbing because it happened to me when privacy rights was violated by an employer to a family member. With HIPPA laws today in place in real life that doctor who revealed Carl's situation to Bookman would had lost his job and license revoked. To understand the fullness of HIPPA here is the link: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/consumer_summary.pdf

When I saw that episode recently I found it quite disturbing because it happened to me when privacy rights was violated by an employer to a family member. With HIPPA laws today in place in real life that doctor who revealed Carl's situation to Bookman would had lost his job and license revoked. To understand the fullness of HIPPA here is the link: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/consumer_summary.pdf
OMG, I am sorry that occurred to you. I hope you took care and followed up on that. No professional should ever reveal private information...NO ONE. You should post this link to that other thread that GarfieldKool made, the one titled abt the hypertension episode where James' boss left a message with Florida abt James being laid off. That was WRONG. On all aspects. That employer violated a code right there. How anyone thinks it is "ok" or alright for a professional person to leave private information to anyone (spouse, child, etc.) is crazy.

Thank you for this link msstewart. As far as I know, there have been ethical and professional codes of conduct that doctors have to follow and what Carl's doctor did was WRONG WRONG WRONG...I really cannot fathom or begin to comprehend what the writers were thinking here. :crazy: Surely those dummies could have come up with a better way to introduce Bookman saying to Carl how he had lung cancer as well. :rolleyes:

When I saw that episode recently I found it quite disturbing because it happened to me when privacy rights was violated by an employer to a family member. With HIPPA laws today in place in real life that doctor who revealed Carl's situation to Bookman would had lost his job and license revoked. To understand the fullness of HIPPA here is the link: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/consumer_summary.pdf
So sorry you had to go through that. Maybe people could get away with something like that (both on TV and real life) back in 1977, but there is NO WAY you could get away with that now. :mad:

OMG, I am sorry that occurred to you. I hope you took care and followed up on that. No professional should ever reveal private information...NO ONE. You should post this link to that other thread that GarfieldKool made, the one titled abt the hypertension episode where James' boss left a message with Florida abt James being laid off. That was WRONG. On all aspects. That employer violated a code right there. How anyone thinks it is "ok" or alright for a professional person to leave private information to anyone (spouse, child, etc.) is crazy.

Thank you for this link msstewart. As far as I know, there have been ethical and professional codes of conduct that doctors have to follow and what Carl's doctor did was WRONG WRONG WRONG...I really cannot fathom or begin to comprehend what the writers were thinking here. :crazy: Surely those dummies could have come up with a better way to introduce Bookman saying to Carl how he had lung cancer as well. :rolleyes:

Thank you for your response of compassion on that. It actually happened last year to me when I got very ill and my employer exposed some unnecessary information to my sister. Anyone could had called there and say they were my sister. The only way that information can be shared is the family must be a power of attorney, put in writing and into the employee's files.

That particular episode even though it was 1977 sent out a message that it is OK for doctors to share that kind of information with any and everybody. I am surprised that Norman Lear allowed that to be put on. Given that he tries to keep things as real as possible at that time. Revealing confidential information is a no no and now more than ever because of the legalties in that not only the doctor losing their job but a lawsuit can be file.

I learned from the situation and now I would never allow anyone to do that to me again and hope those of you who are seeing this will not allow anyone else to violate your privacy in that manner.

So sorry you had to go through that. Maybe people could get away with something like that (both on TV and real life) back in 1977, but there is NO WAY you could get away with that now.

Thanks for your response in compassion. Many don't understand the principle behind a professional violating an employee's privacy and/or patient's rights to protect their privacy. Many I told this to thought I was overreacting and was just being concern.

Thank you for your response of compassion on that. It actually happened last year to me when I got very ill and my employer exposed some unnecessary information to my sister. Anyone could had called there and say they were my sister. The only way that information can be shared is the family must be a power of attorney, put in writing and into the employee's files.

That particular episode even though it was 1977 sent out a message that it is OK for doctors to share that kind of information with any and everybody. I am surprised that Norman Lear allowed that to be put on. Given that he tries to keep things as real as possible at that time. Revealing confidential information is a no no and now more than ever because of the legalties in that not only the doctor losing their job but a lawsuit can be file.

I learned from the situation and now I would never allow anyone to do that to me again and hope those of you who are seeing this will not allow anyone else to violate your privacy in that manner.


Thanks for your response in compassion. Many don't understand the principle behind a professional violating an employee's privacy and/or patient's rights to protect their privacy. Many I told this to thought I was overreacting and was just being concern.
You just can't be too careful in this day and age.

Thank you for your response of compassion on that. It actually happened last year to me when I got very ill and my employer exposed some unnecessary information to my sister. Anyone could had called there and say they were my sister. The only way that information can be shared is the family must be a power of attorney, put in writing and into the employee's files.

That particular episode even though it was 1977 sent out a message that it is OK for doctors to share that kind of information with any and everybody. I am surprised that Norman Lear allowed that to be put on. Given that he tries to keep things as real as possible at that time. Revealing confidential information is a no no and now more than ever because of the legalties in that not only the doctor losing their job but a lawsuit can be file.

I learned from the situation and now I would never allow anyone to do that to me again and hope those of you who are seeing this will not allow anyone else to violate your privacy in that manner.


Thanks for your response in compassion. Many don't understand the principle behind a professional violating an employee's privacy and/or patient's rights to protect their privacy. Many I told this to thought I was overreacting and was just being concern.
You are so right abt the fact that anyone could say, "I am so and so's sister..." Even back in the 70's, you could not get away with what transpired on Good Times. Again, I am sorry for what happened to you. And to think, it only happened LAST YEAR! :faint: You did not overreact. Not in the least. My main point for bringing up this issue in this thread was to show how pitiful it was for the writers' to make it look like it was "ok" for a doctor to reveal such personal medical information.

That whole "buddy system" crap is just that CRAP. Like you Ms Stewart, I am shocked that Norman Lear, who tried to give us reality set within a sitcom, would ALLOW such a gaffe to appear. Not once, but twice. The other time of course is the message that James' boss left with Florida.

I worked as a restaurant manager and NEVER ever did I ever reveal any information whatsoever abt my employees to their family. If they were not home to receive a message, I LEFT A MESSAGE for that employee to call me back. This was back in 1989. No cell phones yet. :lol: I wouldn't want an employer of mine to give anyone BUT ME any info regarding my job.

You are also right to have "overreacted" to your situation. I don't see it as overreacting, but as a way to let individuals know that they are violating your privacy, not to mention violating any rules of conduct and professionalism.

Imagine if someone had lung cancer or any other potentially fatal disease and that info got into the wrong hands?????? :crazy: :mad:

You are so right abt the fact that anyone could say, "I am so and so's sister..." Even back in the 70's, you could not get away with what transpired on Good Times. Again, I am sorry for what happened to you. And to think, it only happened LAST YEAR! :faint: You did not overreact. Not in the least. My main point for bringing up this issue in this thread was to show how pitiful it was for the writers' to make it look like it was "ok" for a doctor to reveal such personal medical information.

That whole "buddy system" crap is just that CRAP. Like you Ms Stewart, I am shocked that Norman Lear, who tried to give us reality set within a sitcom, would ALLOW such a gaffe to appear. Not once, but twice. The other time of course is the message that James' boss left with Florida.

I worked as a restaurant manager and NEVER ever did I ever reveal any information whatsoever abt my employees to their family. If they were not home to receive a message, I LEFT A MESSAGE for that employee to call me back. This was back in 1989. No cell phones yet. :lol: I wouldn't want an employer of mine to give anyone BUT ME any info regarding my job.

You are also right to have "overreacted" to your situation. I don't see it as overreacting, but as a way to let individuals know that they are violating your privacy, not to mention violating any rules of conduct and professionalism.

Imagine if someone had lung cancer or any other potentially fatal disease and that info got into the wrong hands?????? :crazy: :mad:

My point of bringing up the fact that in the 70s not much would had been made of this because HIPPA did not come out That law passed in 1996, people were not as educated and aware of their privacy rights then as we are now, and things back then was done more undercover and not so out in the open as now. Plus people were not as educated about idenity theft as we are now. Look how back in the day when you wrote a check the clerk would ask you for your credit card number and the expiration date until that law got passed. We were more loose about giving out phone numbers to other people but not today. Even when the IRS mailed your form your SSN would be on the mailing label.

In the wake of my situation I was a bit enraged when I saw that and now it would be hard to look at that situation and be objective about without my own issues coming up. If the doctor was that worry he should had pointed to Carl support groups to help him come to grips with his decision and more than likely the doctor was from the projects where everyone knew each other. But still that was unethical for the doctor to tell Bookman about without consulting Carl about it. That's the key element that was missing nor were not mention was the doctor saying that Carl said it would be ok to share that information. Even so that had to be handled quite delicately with Carl and it should had been put in writing so it would not come back on the doctor.

My situation I had a serious illness that nearly took my life and I was coming to work everyday knowing something was wrong with me. I ignored it. That got shared with my sister and a little more stuff. My sister was so upset over the whole thing and it is still raw with her to this day and she told my employer, "If you were that concern for him then you should had taken him to the doctor."

In the long run I came back to work fully healthy and with vindication.

Thanks so much for your compassion and I say this in closing that if any of you are reading this thread I encouraged each of you to take care of your health. In September I celebrate a year in recovery from my illness and healthier than I ever been and enjoying life a lot more now.

My point of bringing up the fact that in the 70s not much would had been made of this because HIPPA did not come out That law passed in 1996, people were not as educated and aware of their privacy rights then as we are now, and things back then was done more undercover and not so out in the open as now. Plus people were not as educated about idenity theft as we are now. Look how back in the day when you wrote a check the clerk would ask you for your credit card number and the expiration date until that law got passed. We were more loose about giving out phone numbers to other people but not today. Even when the IRS mailed your form your SSN would be on the mailing label.

In the wake of my situation I was a bit enraged when I saw that and now it would be hard to look at that situation and be objective about without my own issues coming up. If the doctor was that worry he should had pointed to Carl support groups to help him come to grips with his decision and more than likely the doctor was from the projects where everyone knew each other. But still that was unethical for the doctor to tell Bookman about without consulting Carl about it. That's the key element that was missing nor were not mention was the doctor saying that Carl said it would be ok to share that information. Even so that had to be handled quite delicately with Carl and it should had been put in writing so it would not come back on the doctor.

My situation I had a serious illness that nearly took my life and I was coming to work everyday knowing something was wrong with me. I ignored it. That got shared with my sister and a little more stuff. My sister was so upset over the whole thing and it is still raw with her to this day and she told my employer, "If you were that concern for him then you should had taken him to the doctor."

In the long run I came back to work fully healthy and with vindication.

Thanks so much for your compassion and I say this in closing that if any of you are reading this thread I encouraged each of you to take care of your health. In September I celebrate a year in recovery from my illness and healthier than I ever been and enjoying life a lot more now.
Thank you for sharing your story with us. I do appreciate the part how you ask us to take care of ourselves. I do my best. I would rather know what is wrong, rather than be in denial. Lots of people don't want to know the truth. Lots of people also can't afford medical care. But that is another topic at another time.

I am glad to know that things worked out for you and you feel great. That is great to hear. It is great to know you will be here with us for a long time to come. Having you a member of this board makes it that much nicer.:D :cool:

Thank you for sharing your story with us. I do appreciate the part how you ask us to take care of ourselves. I do my best. I would rather know what is wrong, rather than be in denial. Lots of people don't want to know the truth. Lots of people also can't afford medical care. But that is another topic at another time.

I am glad to know that things worked out for you and you feel great. That is great to hear. It is great to know you will be here with us for a long time to come. Having you a member of this board makes it that much nicer.:D :cool:
I second that, mstewart. :D

:rolleyes:

That was the first time I took Bookman seriously. And so did the audience. I had my hand over my mouth in shock when Bookman revealed that.
Me too, LOL. I liked the episode, it showed us Bookman's serious side.

Me too, LOL. I liked the episode, it showed us Bookman's serious side.

Thank you for that comment. That's how I felt about the episode too.

:rolleyes:
Good to know you don't give a damn abt someone's illness. Now we know where you stand. And don't try and come back and post that is not what you meant with the :rolleyes: because there it is.


Bookman having a serious side could have been written differently, more like CORRECTLY without showing how a DOCTOR VIOLATED THE PROFESSIONAL ETHICS OF BEING A DOCTOR, therefore bringing Bookman into the scene. Overall it was a PSA. I hate the writers for this gaffe and Norman Lear for not being on top of his game for this episode and the scene.

Good to know you don't give a damn abt someone's illness. Now we know where you stand. And don't try and come back and post that is not what you meant with the :rolleyes: because there it is.


Bookman having a serious side could have been written differently, more like CORRECTLY without showing how a DOCTOR VIOLATED THE PROFESSIONAL ETHICS OF BEING A DOCTOR, therefore bringing Bookman into the scene. Overall it was a PSA. I hate the writers for this gaffe and Norman Lear for not being on top of his game for this episode and the scene.

I don't have to explain my actions to you, but to clear up the :rolleyes: . I put those there to comment how I felt about the comments, not the illness. Now stop trying to read my mind, because you don't and never will know anything about me.

I don't have to explain my actions to you, but to clear up the :rolleyes: . I put those there to comment how I felt about the comments, not the illness. Now stop trying to read my mind, because you don't and never will know anything about me.
I KNEW IT, I JUST KNEW IT, I knew you would say that...:rofl: :brent That is why I posted what I did...I don't read your mind, I just see right through you. LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't be putting rolling eyes when commenting abt another's illess. So rude.

I'm a grown-ass woman and I can do whatever I want to do. That's why I usually don't respond to your threads because you think you know it all. Just because you see things one way does not make it right.

And another thing, don't you ever tell me that I don't care about someone's illness. My father died of lung cancer and it devastated me and my entire family. You need to watch what you say to people when you don't know the circumstances behind it. And if that wasn't rude, I don't know what is.

I'm a little torn on this one. On one hand, it was contrived to use that storyline to explain Bookman's illness, but on the other it was nice seeing a softer, more human side of Bookman.

And another thing, don't you ever tell me that I don't care about someone's illness. My father died of lung cancer and it devastated me and my entire family. You need to watch what you say to people when you don't know the circumstances behind it. And if that wasn't rude, I don't know what is.
:rolleyes: Too late, we already know that this >:rolleyes: was meant for and why. You could have easily copied the quotes, deleted the portion of the post regarding the illness and put your worthless >:rolleyes: in there. But you didn't. Don't try to squirm outta that one. :rolleyes:

Again, we need to look at the fact that the doctor violated a code of ethics and if it HIPPA was passed his license would had been revoked and his job would had been lost. It was unfortunate that it was used for laughs or get a point across and it sent a message that it is OK to violate one's privacy and that is outright wrong, unprofessional, unethical and the person who would go that level to get through a patient is a person I would not trust. We need to look at that and realize that it is a TV show and that should not even been put before the screen.

:rolleyes: Too late, we already know that this >:rolleyes: was meant for and why. You could have easily copied the quotes, deleted the portion of the post regarding the illness and put your worthless >:rolleyes: in there. But you didn't. Don't try to squirm outta that one. :rolleyes:


Ignorance is bliss, isn't it? :lol:

Again, we need to look at the fact that the doctor violated a code of ethics and if it HIPPA was passed his license would had been revoked and his job would had been lost. It was unfortunate that it was used for laughs or get a point across and it sent a message that it is OK to violate one's privacy and that is outright wrong, unprofessional, unethical and the person who would go that level to get through a patient is a person I would not trust. We need to look at that and realize that it is a TV show and that should not even been put before the screen.
Very true Mstewart. I agree with you there. Can you imagine how many people who are ignorant or not very educated saw that scene and thought it was "ok" or that doctors go around doing what Carl's doctor did, when in fact it was LEGALLY, MORALLY AND ETHICALLY WRONG? Stupid message to send a million people. Even back then watching that scene I knew it was wrong. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out.

I won't comment to the ignorant boor anymore, what a waste.

I won't comment to the ignorant boor anymore, what a waste.

Now why do you talk about yourself like that? :p

Again, we need to look at the fact that the doctor violated a code of ethics and if it HIPPA was passed his license would had been revoked and his job would had been lost. It was unfortunate that it was used for laughs or get a point across and it sent a message that it is OK to violate one's privacy and that is outright wrong, unprofessional, unethical and the person who would go that level to get through a patient is a person I would not trust. We need to look at that and realize that it is a TV show and that should not even been put before the screen.

Good Times was a comedy, for God's sake. Nobody watched the show for important information. They watched it to be entertained and get a few laughs. Some of you can take a show and rip it apart and try to make it seem like you know a little something. Who cares about doctor/patient confidentiality on a comedy sitcom? Some people can be so obnoxious. :mad: