The Apple board once again finds itself in a tricky situation due to the illness of its rock star CEO Steve Jobs. He will take temporary leave from the company for unspecified medical reasons, leaving his duties over day-to-day operations to Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook. Jobs and the company have appealed for privacy, and analysts who cover the company honored that in a recent conference call.

Jobs was treated for a type of pancreatic cancer called an islet cell neuroendocrine tumor in 2004. He underwent a liver transplant in 2009. While specifics of his current condition are not known, there's a slew of possible medical complications that could come into play.

The illness of a CEO, especially one who's seen as integral to the company's success, is a huge issue for any board. Such issues are magnified when it comes to Apple, which endured criticism for not being more open in 2009 when he received a new liver.

Shareholders are right to wonder what all of this means. Some feel the board would be wise to provide more information. You can't blame people for wondering if Jobs will be back at the helm at all.

Many corporate boards have policies in place that govern these situations. Some have found that an effort to aggressively disclose details works well.

The Apple board, of course, has to weigh the wishes of their CEO vs. the needs of shareholders. You can bet this has been discussed in full and the debate was likely anguished.

My bet is that there are at least a few directors supporting more disclosure. As of now, while the world sympathizes with Jobs, the uncertainty about the company is undeniable. We can only hope for a happy ending.

"I love Apple so much and hope to be back as soon as I can," Jobs wrote in a sparse 114-word email to Apple's employees.

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