[Med-privacy] datamining case

[peter marshall]

PRESCRIPTION DRUG FIGHT GOES BEFORE APPEALS COURT
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Larry Neumeister]

So-called data-mining companies that collect information about the  
drugs doctors prescribe asked an appeals court Tuesday to stop Vermont  
from enacting a law next week restricting their work. Attorney Thomas  
Julin told a three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of  
Appeals that it would violate the First Amendment rights of the  
companies if the law is enacted on July 1. He asked the appeals court  
to block implementation of the law until it decides whether to uphold  
a lower court ruling that concluded the law did not violate the  
Constitution. Both sides were expected to submit written arguments in  
the wider appeal case within two months. The court did not immediately  
rule, but Judge Barrington Parker called it a fascinating case.
http://benton.org/node/26118