Sheriffs in North Carolina want the lists of patients using painkillers etc. Will other state law enforcement departments follow?
Sheriffs in North Carolina want access to state computer records identifying anyone with prescriptions for powerful painkillers and other controlled substances.
The state sheriff's association pushed the idea Tuesday, saying the move would help them make drug arrests and curb a growing problem of prescription drug abuse. But patient advocates say opening up people's medicine cabinets to law enforcement would deal a devastating blow to privacy rights.
Allowing sheriffs' offices and other law enforcement officials to use the state's computerized list would vastly widen the circle of people with access to information on prescriptions written for millions of people. As it stands now, doctors and pharmacists are the main users.
"I am very concerned about the potential privacy issues for people with pain," said Candy Pitcher of Cary, who volunteers for the nonprofit American Pain Foundation. "I don't feel that I should have to sign away my privacy rights just because I take an opioid under doctor's care." Pitcher is receiving treatment for a broken back.
The ACLU opposed a bill in 2007 that would have opened the list to law enforcement officials, said ACLU lobbyist Sarah Preston. The organization would likely object to the new proposal.
"What really did concern us is the privacy aspect," she said. Opening the record to more users could deter someone from getting necessary medicine because of the fear that others would find out, she said, "particularly in small towns where everybody knows everybody."
On Tuesday, the North Carolina Sheriff's Association went to a legislative health committee asking for access to state computer records that ID people with prescriptions for certain drugs.
Association president Sam Page said it will help them combat a growing problem.
"We take that information, we could go and check against that database and see if that person, in fact, appears to be doctor shopping and obtaining prescriptions for the purpose of resell, which is illegal," he said.
While well intended, Brad Keller feels this move violates a person's right to privacy.
"You're talking about accessing my private records for what purpose? You certainly aren't medical professionals," he said.
At this time, Page says the proposal is just that and hopes it will start a dialogue on how to better assist law enforcement in finding the criminals abusing the system.
In response to the proposal, William Bronson with the state Department of Health and Human Services, is offering a compromise. He suggests the state allow drug investigators to request information from the database related to a specific investigation.
Links:
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/09/08/669723/lists-of-pain-pillpatients-sought.html
http://charlotte.news14.com/content/local_news/charlotte/630136/sheriffs--request-for-pain-pill-records-ignites-privacy-debate