Pubdate: Fri, 23 Mar 2007
Source: News & Observer (Raleigh, NC)
Copyright: 2007 The News and Observer Publishing Company
Contact: http://www.newsobserver.com/484/story/433256.html
Website: http://www.news-observer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/304
Author: Jeanne Rhea

PHARMACY PRIVACY

Regarding the March 18 news story "Bill would give sheriffs access to 
pharmacy records": From my understanding of Senate Bill 4 (H745), it 
appears that a sheriff or any other federal or SBI agent may review 
pharmacy records without anyone appearing before a judge or 
magistrate to determine that a search warrant is justified. I 
understand the need to catch those illegally obtaining and selling 
drugs. But no one should be privy to such information without a 
search warrant. Medical records include information that is 
considered the most private personal information by most citizens.

With broad sweeps of reviewing pharmacy records without probable 
cause when a judge or magistrate has not authorized these searches, 
everyone who is innocent has been stepped on. It does not matter that 
the authorities do not share the information with anyone except other 
law enforcement officials. It is wrong that anyone should be able to 
get this information without just cause. I noticed that 47 out of 47 
senators voted in favor of this bill. I am afraid that citizens do 
not realize that this infringes on their civil liberties.

Jeanne Rhea

Raleigh
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom