Since last Thursday, when Cuban reggaeton star El Taiger sustained a gunshot wound to the head in Miami under circumstances still under investigation, his fans have been concerned about the limited information available regarding his medical condition. An article published this Tuesday in the legal section of the independent outlet elTOQUE explored the legal reasons behind the restricted disclosure of his medical details.
The primary reason is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which in the United States protects the confidentiality of patients' medical information, restricting access to immediate family members or those previously designated as legal representatives. Since El Taiger is unconscious and has no close family in the U.S., the medical staff at Jackson Memorial Hospital must decide who can receive updates on his condition.
Medical Decisions Amidst Incapacity
Another concern is the severity of El Taiger's condition, which has raised questions about what will happen if he remains on life support without the prospect of recovery. In Florida, where he is hospitalized, laws allow for specific protocols to be followed in the absence of a designated representative for making critical medical decisions.
If El Taiger lacks a legal document appointing a representative for his medical care, Florida law outlines a priority order for identifying who can make decisions on his behalf. This order includes court-appointed guardians, a spouse, adult children, parents, siblings, and, if necessary, a close friend or social worker.
A sensitive issue highlighted by elTOQUE is that if El Taiger is determined to have suffered brain death, medical personnel have the authority to disconnect life support, as brain death is legally equivalent to physical death in Florida. Such a decision would be made in accordance with medical standards and under the oversight of two qualified doctors, including a neurologist.
The Impact of Lacking Health Insurance
In this critical medical situation with an uncertain prognosis, influencer Un Martí To Durako revealed during a program featuring one of José Manuel Carbajal's (El Taiger) managers that the singer lacks health insurance, which could jeopardize his recovery. "This is no lie; if we don't help raise funds, they will disconnect him," said Un Martí To Durako, indicating that financial constraints could lead to his disconnection from life support. He clarified that neither the family nor the medical staff desire this outcome, but rather it is the U.S. healthcare system that makes tough decisions without insurance or financial backing.
Reggaeton artist Oniel Bebeshito has pledged a portion of the earnings from his two tracks with El Taiger, "Marca Mandarina" and "El Punto," to assist his colleague in this dire situation. He also encouraged his followers to join the cause, emphasizing that even a small contribution from each person can make a significant difference.
El Taiger was discovered in the back of a vehicle near Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital on October 4th and was rushed to the facility for surgery. He survived the operation and has been on life support since. This Monday, his manager Marcel Reinosa reported during an interview with broadcaster Enrique Santos that El Taiger has begun to show slight progress in his recovery. Reinosa noted significant improvements, such as the artist's kidneys resuming function and his body starting to regulate its temperature independently.