Bush administration is prying into your medical records in violation of the law

[Jcrowley]

Bush administration is prying into your medical records in violation of the law
by John Aravosis (DC) · 4/19/2007 11:15:00 AM ET


We learned yesterday that the Bush administration has created a database of every single prescription drug user/patient in the country (that would pretty much be all of us). The database was created pursuant to a 2005 law that was intended to prevent the abuse of prescription drugs. Funny that this massive new database of your private medical information is now being (ab)used for a purpose that wasn't intended in or approved by the law.

The federal database of your private medical information is now being used by federal law enforcement to investigate crimes that have nothing to do with prescription drug abuse. We know this because yesterday ABC News disclosed that the feds checked the database to see what prescription meds the Virginia Tech shooter might have been on. How does the mass murder of students and faculty at Virginia Tech have anything to do with prescription drug abuse? It doesn't.

The Bush administration has created a massive database of your private medical records and they're now abusing it. Gee, what a surprise - the Bush administration secretly prying into our private lives in violation of the law. If they wanted this power, they could have sought it from Congress. They didn't. So they took it anyway, even though the law doesn't allow it.

Your privacy is gone, and it's not terribly clear that anyone in Washington cares.

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2007/04/bush-administration-is-prying-into-your.html

[leftofthedial]

1. fascism, capitalism

the end of the world as we knew it began on Dec. 12, 2000, when 5 SCOTUS traitors endorsed the coup.

[ms liberty]

2. This is an important story, one that's passed almost under the radar...K&R n/t

[BlackVelvet04]

3. Rather makes one feel like

giving up. It's always something with these guys.

[LiberalFighter]

4. Is the Windbag in their database?

[juno jones]

5. HAHAHAHAH!

I am medically a nonentity. No insurance, no healthcare from docs in years...never thought it would be a plus. Then again, I never thought I would be happy to be a cook...now all my friends in IT are fucked and I'm still working. Poverty ain't so bad when you are under the radar :sarcasm:.

[AikidoSoul]

6. Several anti-psychotic drugs, and other drugs used to treat mental problems

are linked to suicidal and aggressive behavior... especially Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). These types of drugs can cause headaches, nausea, anxiety and agitation, insomnia and bizarre dreams, loss of appetite, impotence, confusion and akathisia. A relatively high number of persons are affected by more than four of these symptoms. It's estimated that between 10% and 25% of SSRI users experience akathisia, often in conjunction with suicidal thoughts, hostility and violent behavior.

One can only speculate as to why the Bush admin wanted to see which drugs Cho was taking. One thing for sure, it was not to make an issue of the types of drugs or to name them publicly--that could hurt their corporate friends and is a no/no.

Spying on citizens is o.k. though. :sarcasm:


edit to add sarcasm thingy

[formercia]

7. If you have ever been on anti-depressants

even if it was for chronic pain therapy, you can expect the DOJ to come for your guns.

It's one of the priorities of Bush Gang. Disarm anyone that might be a threat to them.

Have you ever smoked pot and purchased a gun recently? There is a question on the form about using or being 'addicted' to pot. If you said no, you have committed perjury. Don't think they can find out? Think again.

Don't think they can co-opt your doctor to have you tested. Think again, they co-opted mine.

[AikidoSoul]

11. I never heard about this law. What is the law?

That's very interesting to say the least.

[meldroc]

13. Co-opted your doctor?

Don't think they can co-opt your doctor to have you tested. Think again, they co-opted mine.

OK, you piqued my curiosity. Assuming you don't mind (I don't want to invade your privacy,) I'd like to hear this story.

This makes me very nervous, because I have taken some interesting medications in the past. I don't need the Bush Administration and their political hacks using that against me.

[PA Democrat]

8. Bet some private contractor is handling this for the Bush administration.

Wonder how much it would take for their other corporate friends to buy information from such a database?

Just think. You apply for a job and the company gets access to all of records. Gee, corporate America would never discriminate in their hiring practices based upon the prescription drugs you have taken, would they? :grr:

[mainegreen]

9. So I guess * thinks the executive branch is not a covered entity under HIPAA?

Tools.

[Holly_Hobby]

10. I don't think this is new, I really don't......

When we applied for a life insurance policy 16 years ago, the agent told us he would check our medical history on the federal data base. I'm not sure if that included the drugs we were taking at that time. But he definitely discussed with us the federal data base of our medical histories.

[moondust]

12. They're probably selling the info

to their pals in the insurance business who would love to know all about somebody's health history BEFORE they gamble on insuring them. Wouldn't surprise me.