Iowa Pharmacy Board Plan to Create Prescription-Tracking System Criticized
An Iowa Board of Pharmacy Examiners plan to establish a computer system that would track prescriptions for controlled substances came under fire Tuesday by state lawmakers and critics who said it would invade the privacy of Iowa patients. The board wants Iowa to join about 20 other states that are tracking controlled substances in an effort to crack down on the abuse of prescription drugs such as painkillers. But some lawmakers compared the government-run system with "big brother," saying it could put patients' sensitive medical information in the wrong hands.
Prescription-tracking system criticized over privacy concerns, Quad-City Times, August 11, 2005.
