A bill proposing a statewide controlled substance prescription database to help combat addiction has quickly moved through the Pennsylvania state legislature. The American Civil Liberties Union, however, believes the proposed database does not adequately protect patient privacy, according to a report in the Pennsylvania Independent.
In addition to creating the tracking database, the legislation would permit law enforcement officials to query the database for information on potential drug offenders, as well as physicians, pharmacists and others able to prescribe medication, according to the report.
The ACLU believes the legislation infringes on patient privacy. "While there are legitimate public health concerns about prescription drug abuse, this bill goes too far in sacrificing the privacy rights of millions of Pennsylvanians," said Reggie Shuford, executive director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania, in a news release. "The privacy of the child who breaks his arm on his bike or who takes attention deficit medication is being sacrificed because someone across town is abusing these substances."
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