The government and your prescription privacy

[lesliepear]

Take a look at this LJ entry:

http://www.livejournal.com/users/exileinparadise/151551.html?view=128255#t128255

I'm not too thrilled with government seeing all anexity, depression, sleep and painkiller prescriptions, especially since many of them can be for short term chronic conditions.

Comments

[secanth.livejournal.com]

I'm all for tracking from manufacturer to final destination, but once it hits my pharmacy, the 'tracking' tag should come off. As with any type of medical information, who the pharmacy fills the perscription for should be on a 'need to know' basis. In other words, they'd better have some damn good 'probable cause' to go sticking their noses into my medicine drawer...one certified by a judge.

[scarlett75.livejournal.com]

I suspect that since there's no way to actually "Tag" a pill (well, no way that would pass FDA regulations), that won't actually be a problem. :)

I also suspect that they're not going to look that specifically at any ONE person getting a drug. It will most likely be used for statistical purposes/data analysis/market research. Kind of a "more people in their 40's use this drug more than people in their 20's". Regardless of any Bill passed, your medical records and prescription information will still fall under the Patient Privacy Act of 1976. This would require that you must sign a special document allowing the release of your medical records OR a judge must have a supena for your records.