JEB BUSH INVADES DOCTOR/PATIENT PRIVACY

[1a2b3c]

http://www.mapinc.org/alert/0281.html

JEB BUSH INVADES DOCTOR/PATIENT PRIVACY


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DrugSense FOCUS Alert #281 Tue, 4 Nov 2003

Less than ninety days after his own daughter was released from a state-sponsored drug treatment program, Florida Governor Jeb Bush is making dire pronouncements about using heavy handed law enforcement against others in Florida who commit the same crime of prescription drug fraud.

In a commentary written for the Orlando Sentinel, Bush touts a 'prescription validation system' wherein all prescriptions will be tracked by law enforcement. The proposed system does not define precise numbers that result in criminal violation nor does it precisely define what levels of drug use constitute abuse. Only the law enforcement officers, the prosecutors and - by proxy - the governor will be free to determine who will be charged as criminals.

The obvious result will be an increase in doctors' under medicating patients in need for fear of being criminally charged and losing their livelihoods. Additionally, these same under medicated patients will be motivated to buy from the black market, which will further strengthen the finances of actual criminal drug dealers. Finally, this proposal seeks to make drug war enemies out of doctors who help hundreds, and often thousands of patients over time, simply because a relatively tiny number of patients elect to abuse prescribed pharmaceuticals. In effect, Bush's idea causes dire pain and inconvenience for hundreds of thousands of Floridians all in the supposed name of saving a few hundred. Bush remains ignorant of the fact that those who want to abuse drugs will choose to do so with or without the governor's stamp of approval.

Bush insists that the proposed system would respect doctor/patient privacy. But this ignores the many police and prosecutors who will have access to the information.

Please write a letter today to The Orlando Sentinel to tell them what you think about Bush's suggestion. Ask why Floridians in need of medication should first get the approval of Gov. Bush and his law enforcement agencies.

Thanks for your effort and support.

It's not what others do it's what YOU do

[Eloriel]

1. kick

[1a2b3c]

4. ive never had my thread kicked by someone other than me

That was cool.

[Gman]

2. This law is for people like Rush or Bush's daughter

If this law was in place in FL, Rush would not have gone near as far as he did with his prescription fraud.

[roguevalley]

3. Welcome to Nazi Germany. If I lived in Florida, I would buy a pitchfork

and a howitzer. At least they can put Rush away. RIGHT!?

[Moderator]

5. Locked thread

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