My husband and I have a woodstove and we use it all winter long. We do not pollute the entire neighborhood with smoke. I am wondering if these people are burning green wood and do not have the flue closed properly. The stove if used correctly should not be sending out that much smoke. I have NEVER had my neighbors complain about smoke entering their homes. I am sure that the people who's stove is puffing out that much smoke are either burning the wrong wood or have not cleaned the stack, if the stove is used properly it should not be sending out that much smoke.

You totally missed the mark on the advice you gave about the woman working in a clinic who was reading patients charts and repeating what she read. You missed the most important thing: SHE IS BREAKING THE LAW!!! And not just some local law, SHE IS COMMITTING A FEDERAL OFFENSE! You need to read up on HIPAA, the penalties for breaking HIPAA is very large fines and JAIL TIME. This woman needs to be put in her place, and maybe a hefty fine and some time in the slammer will convince her to keep her mouth shut.

In every reputable hospital in the country, violating HIPAA is grounds for immediate termination and prosecution. HIPAA needs to be followed. It was created to protect patients from dimwits like the woman in the clinic, but more importantly, to protect everyone from discrimination. This woman is a serious liability and her employers need to be informed of her behavior IMMEDIATELY. Or, if that does not work, contact the local office of the FBI. Believe me, they WILL take it very seriously and act accordingly. Hopefully, just the fact that she is being investigated will cause her to stop her blabbermouthing. She may think it is harmless, but she is committing a very serious and potentially life altering event.

You need to emphasize this not only to everyone that works around sensitive patient information, but to EVERYONE who IS a patient! They need to know they are protected by a very powerful federal law, and have every right to have it enforced.

Dear Annie,
Ok after reading the original article, then 1 st post and second post. I most WHAT THE HECK is post one babbling about. Post 2 well that is jusst suggestions. But I have a solution to the problem. Let me start with saying we burn winter along also. Our stove smokes, that is what stoves do. The problem is to start with is middle class and lower class people have to do something in these hard times to make ends meet as our famouse American Electric Power continues to rise and gas also. What fdo they think people can keep doing to make a living when I myself about froze last year trying to keep heat cut back and still got a 443.00 bill for one month! Even the news receantly stated people are going to go back to burning wood, candles and other things as they are having power cut off for non payment. Our local community service is recieving 10-15 people a day trying to get their bill paid for a cut of notice. So they are making a fortune at AEP and were suffering, but the goverment need to cap out there rates to stop this. As for the neighbors I have a solution.Offer to pay there electric bills through the winter! Then they can stay warm save money and the neighbors will not have to complain about the smoke. Everyone is happy! PS Also they should understand that if they can't afford to move for another 2 yrs they too must be experiencing some of the hard time. So pay their bill and show your a good sameritan and be thankful you have a roof over your own head

First I want to say that if a wood stove is used properly, it will not produce huge amounts of smoke like this person is suggesting. And I'm more then certain they are over exagerating how much smoke is actually 'going into their home'. I have not had any of our neighbors complain about our wood stove producing huge amounts of smoke that engulfs their home....ever. This person is making is spund like their neighbors are having a bonfire right under the window....
Also the fact is, THESE PEOPLE ARE SAVING MONEY by burning wood. Last year our heating bill each month was $8! That was just to keep the pilot light on, just in case we wanted to use the furnace. All I ever heard my neighbors, friends and family complain about was their outrageous $200-$400 heating bills.