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Steve Jobs' Health Problem: What Did Apple Know, and When Did They Know It?
Posted Jan 05, 2009 01:38pm EST by Aaron Task in Investing, Electronics, Newsmakers"The remedy for this nutritional problem is relatively simple and straightforward," Jobs said in a rare and remarkable statement, in which he reassured the Apple "community" that he will remain as CEO.
That's certainly good news for Jobs' fans and Apple shareholders, and hopefully Jobs' health concerns will truly be resolved. But today's announcement does not remove the controversy that has dogged the issue of Jobs' health for several months. In fact, today's news adds to speculation over whether Jobs and Apple should have and could have been more forthcoming about the CEO's health.
Consider the following when thinking about what Jobs and Apple knew, and when did they know it:
- After Jobs' gaunt appearance at Apple's developers conference in June first set off speculation, Apple said the CEO was suffering from a "common bug." Maybe that was true but it now appears to have only been half the story, at best.
- In July, The New York Times' Joe Nocera reported Jobs gave him "some details about his recent health problems, but only if I would agree to keep them off the record." Yet in today's statement, Jobs said this hormonal imbalance was diagnosed only "a few weeks ago"; so what, if anything, did he know and tell Nocera in July?
- On Dec. 16, after announcing this week's MacWorld conference would be the company's last and that Jobs wouldn't deliver the keynote, Apple attributed the decision to trade shows having become "a very minor part of how Apple reaches its customers." Again, that may true but only half the story, as were reports like those of CNBC's Jim Goldman who declared last month: "Jobs' decision [to skip MacWorld] was more about politics than his pancreas."
Officially, Apple PR and executives have said repeatedly that Jobs' health is a "private matter," but the action in the stock since June suggests the CEO's health is very much a "material" event.
As with their (mis)handling of Jobs cancer and related treatment in 2003-04, Apple's action in the past seven months show the company - and the CEO - needs to do a much better job of discussing this highly controversial subject if and when it becomes a legitimate source of concern for the Apple community.
77 Comments
david - Monday January 05, 2009 01:54PM EST
Are Aaron Task and his second banana Apple shareholders?
Mark - Monday January 05, 2009 01:55PM EST
Be honest you couldn't care less about steve jobs,only about your lousy stock....
david - Monday January 05, 2009 01:58PM EST
Talk about "behavior". Isn't Blodgett a crook?
Neal - Monday January 05, 2009 01:59PM EST
After yelling the word "think" several times, you conveniently left out one line of Jobs' statement: "Sophisticated blood tests have confirmed this diagnosis." This was obviously not a simple problem to diagnose and Apple had no obligation to assume the worst. I'm sorry your favorite story is going away, but spinning the hell out of such a definitive statement makes you irresponsible hypocrites.
Mike N - Monday January 05, 2009 02:10PM EST
Main problem is steve is not eating... They do not teach why patient do not eat. They tell Steve just eat protein but he can't so they blame on hormone. -fire his his physician, so seek alternative. Easily to resolve.
Chad - Monday January 05, 2009 02:10PM EST
I love apple products but hate everything about the way the company Is run. As a Stockholder jobs must be great but as a customer I would love to see him go. Not die-- that would be a little inhuman-- but maybe retire or grow a soul
Christy - Monday January 05, 2009 02:11PM EST
This guy isn't going to live forever. The company will go on with or without him. I'm glad he's going to be ok but all these people that freak out every time he loses a pound, need to get a grip. It's crazy that the stock shoots up and down based on his latest check up.
Testing Yahoo - Monday January 05, 2009 02:17PM EST
he story proposes when his health is better the stock does better, I wonder if his health will get better as the stocks do better. No matter which way the cause and effect go, I hope he does well personally. Hormones are something that just sound better balanced.
__A_YAHOO_USER__ - Monday January 05, 2009 02:25PM EST
nothing to do with business....Good business is good business....If sick resign.
Yahoo! Finance User - Monday January 05, 2009 02:27PM EST
WTF the Guys --- seriously - you FAILED to mention: one line of Jobs' statement: "Sophisticated blood tests have confirmed this diagnosis." --- Really used to like you two & your analysis -- now I must reconsider --- Instead of focusing on the positive you choose to go negative ... and therefore bullish.
Yahoo! Finance User - Monday January 05, 2009 02:27PM EST
WTF the Guys --- seriously - you FAILED to mention: one line of Jobs' statement: "Sophisticated blood tests have confirmed this diagnosis." --- Really used to like you two & your analysis -- now I must reconsider --- Instead of focusing on the positive you choose to go negative ... and therefore bullish.
sudha - Monday January 05, 2009 02:27PM EST
Mike_N is a moron. Next he will say " Fire God" because He cannot keep Jobs in good health, causing Mike's investments to go down.
Yahoo! Finance User - Monday January 05, 2009 02:30PM EST
Blodget, Take a good look at yourself in this video..... Who looks unhealthy? You need help.
Randy - Monday January 05, 2009 02:36PM EST
Sensationalism at it's best. Journalism at it's worst. Check out the sensationalist words: very sick, serious, legitimate, forthright, serious concern, very sick, so sick, forthright, he is really sick and wants to deal with it, a legitimate serious issue. Try and count how many times Henry says the word "serious" in the the story. The sad part is, there is nothing serious in this piece of sensational fluff.
gs - Monday January 05, 2009 02:38PM EST
Are you trying to stir up an unwarranted SEC investigation or a frivolous lawsuit? What's your evidence? Muckraking is one thing. Gossiping is another.
Randy - Monday January 05, 2009 02:38PM EST
Sensationalism at it's best. Journalism at it's worst. Check out the sensationalist words: very sick, serious, legitimate, forthright, serious concern, very sick, so sick, forthright, he is really sick and wants to deal with it, a legitimate serious issue. Try and count how many times Henry says the word "serious" in the the story. The sad part is, there is nothing serious in this piece of sensational fluff.
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- Monday January 05, 2009 01:51PM EST
who gave yo a job morons?