PHARMACY PRIVACY

Regarding the March 18 news story "Bill would give sheriffs access to
pharmacy records": From my understanding of Senate Bill 4 (H745), it
appears that a sheriff or any other federal or SBI agent may review
pharmacy records without anyone appearing before a judge or
magistrate to determine that a search warrant is justified. I
understand the need to catch those illegally obtaining and selling
drugs. But no one should be privy to such information without a
search warrant. Medical records include information that is
considered the most private personal information by most citizens.

With broad sweeps of reviewing pharmacy records without probable
cause when a judge or magistrate has not authorized these searches,
everyone who is innocent has been stepped on. It does not matter that
the authorities do not share the information with anyone except other
law enforcement officials. It is wrong that anyone should be able to
get this information without just cause. I noticed that 47 out of 47
senators voted in favor of this bill. I am afraid that citizens do
not realize that this infringes on their civil liberties.

Jeanne Rhea

Raleigh