Business | Technology
Apple grapples with privacy ethics over CEO's transplant
Apple Inc Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs, on medical leave since January, had a liver transplant about two months ago, a person familiar with the matter said.
- Bloomberg
- Published: 23:25 June 21, 2009
San Francisco: Apple Inc Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs, on medical leave since January, had a liver transplant about two months ago, a person familiar with the matter said.
Jobs, 54, was considering the procedure as a result of complications following his 2004 surgery to remove an islet cell neuroendocrine tumour, Bloomberg News reported in January, citing people who were monitoring his illness. Apple reiterated on Saturday that Jobs plans to return to the Cupertino, California-based company at the end of the month.
Apple's board sought legal advice on how the company should deal with disclosures about Jobs's health, according to people familiar with the matter. "The board's handling of the situation may be acceptable, especially since the company has continued to function well in his absence," said John Dienhart, who holds the Frank Shrontz Chair for Professional Ethics at Seattle University.
"If people were worried about Apple's team and they weren't meeting expectations or the products weren't as good as they were promoted to be, then Jobs's health becomes more important from an investor point of view, even while he's on medical leave," Dienhart said. "But given he was on medical leave and they're rolling along, there's a huge expectation in this country of medical privacy."
Jobs didn't respond to an e-mail seeking comment. Apple's lead directors, Intuit Inc Chairman Bill Campbell and Genentech Inc Chairman Art Levinson, also didn't respond to requests for comment.
"Steve continues to look forward to returning to Apple at the end of June and there is nothing further to say," said Steve Dowling, an Apple spokesman. He declined to comment on the role of Apple's board in Jobs's health disclosures.
Apple hasn't disclosed the exact nature of Jobs's medical condition. Jobs appeared thinner at an Apple event in June of last year. He said on January 5 he was suffering from a hormone imbalance and would remain CEO.
Nine days later, Jobs said his health issues were more complex, prompting his decision to take leave through the end of June and turn over day-to-day management to operating chief Tim Cook.
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