Sheriffs in N.C. have stepped over the line

[ensho]

http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/09/08/669723/lists-of-pain-pillpatients-sought.html


Sheriffs want lists of patients using painkillers


-snip-


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.

-snip-


Sheriffs made their pitch Tuesday to a legislative health care committee looking for ways to confront prescription drug abuse. Local sheriffs said that more people in their counties die of accidental overdoses than from homicides.

For years, sheriffs have been trying to convince legislators that the state's prescription records should be open to them.

-snip-
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[montanacowboy]

1. HIPPA Laws

didn't they hear about that down in N.C.??

[T Wolf]

3. They thought it said "Hippie" and automatically hate anything related to them dirty stinkin commies.

[Jim__]

2. If they could just put us all in jail and only let us out to perform specific tasks ...

... their jobs would be so much easier.

[Fumesucker]

4. That would never work...

What we *really* need to do is turn the entire nation into a gigantic prison, then we could get rid of the scourge of people trying to enjoy themselves in ways of which the majority disapprove.

[Warpy]

5. Right, chip us at birth and follow us with GPS,

with all of us spending most of our down time monitoring our fellow citizens instead of doing such self indulgent things like eating and sleeping. It's the perfect right wing world, everyone afraid to do anything but work and do as they're told.

[Fumesucker]

6. Eh, not just a perfect right wing world..

There's plenty of Democratic politicians who would vote for it in a flash, Dianne Feinstein comes to mind, along with the rest of the Dems in the Senate.

Think of the children.

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/07/30/senate-votes-to-double-fines-jail-time-for-pot-brownies/

[TreasonousBastard]

7. "accidental overdoses"? How is that a law enforcement problem?