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Steve Jobs Taking New Medical Leave of Absence [Updated]

Monday January 17, 2011 5:05 am PST by Eric Slivka

Apple today issued a media advisory revealing that Steve Jobs has been granted a "medical leave of absence" from the company. Jobs plans to continue serving as CEO, although Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook will oversee Apple's day to day operations during Jobs' absence.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs today sent the following email to all Apple employees:

Team,

At my request, the board of directors has granted me a medical leave of absence so I can focus on my health. I will continue as CEO and be involved in major strategic decisions for the company.

I have asked Tim Cook to be responsible for all of Apple's day to day operations. I have great confidence that Tim and the rest of the executive management team will do a terrific job executing the exciting plans we have in place for 2011.

I love Apple so much and hope to be back as soon as I can. In the meantime, my family and I would deeply appreciate respect for our privacy.

Steve

No timetable for his expected return has been given.

Jobs had previously suffered from pancreatic cancer and had reportedly been cured of the disease back in 2004. But Jobs announced in January 2009 that he would be taking a six-month leave of absence for medical reasons. It was later revealed that he received a liver transplant during that time.

Update: The New York Times reports on a source claiming that Jobs has been suffering from "ups and downs" typical of those dealing with immune system issues related to liver transplants, but that Jobs had recently scaled back his activities at Apple as one of those down cycles began in recent weeks.

Mr. Jobs suffers from immune system issues common with people who have received liver transplants and, as a result, his health suffers from frequent "ups and downs," according to a person with knowledge of the situation, who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss it.

In recent weeks, Mr. Jobs began a down cycle and slowed his activities at Apple, the person said. Mr. Jobs has been coming to the office about two days a week, and appeared increasingly emaciated, the person said. He frequently lunched in his office, rather than in the company cafeteria, the person said.



Tag: nytimes.com
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HLdan
110 months ago

In all honesty news are not about sympathy in general. They are about news or journalistic value. I find it bit silly even to start evaluating and rating news according to their sympathy value.

To you voting positive might mean: "[...] you're glad he's taking a leave and you're glad he's sick and you're glad there's negative news about him". To me it means that this news is important and it can have effect on Apple, their products and eventually on their customers. To me the value of the news has nothing to do with sympathy. If you honestly think that positive votes are from "[...] from people who hate SJ". Then I think you are mistaken. I think vast majority who voted positive are those who read this like a news site without emotional evolvement including without hate or prejudice.


Okay, then explain to me why there's so little positive votes here and so many negative ones. In this case the negative isn't considered vindictive as it usually is. People are genuinely concerned about SJ's health and the health of Apple and the stock holders if he has to step down due to illness. Voting positive that he's reporting that he's taken ill certainly doesn't sound like any of the above.
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HLdan
110 months ago

Do you think everybody in this world must follow your method of close-mindedness? I can vote however I feel. How is it your business to tell people what is right or wrong? Believe it or not, Steve's health is more important than running a company. ;)


Yes, in fact it is my business as well it's everyone else's business here since you posted on a public forum and shared with everybody what way you voted. If you want your business kept to yourself then don't post. I do have a right to comment on your post as well as you just commented on mine.:rolleyes:
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