British Columbia Civil Liberties Association
(A Member of the Canadian Rights and Liberties Federation)

518 - 119 West Pender St.
Vancouver, B.C.  V6B 1S5
Telephone: (604) 687-2919


16 March 1994

			PRESS RELEASE

PRIVACY CZAR TO RATE PHARMANET

On Thursday, March 17th, B.C.'s Information and Privacy Commissioner
David Flaherty will address a meeting of government officials, health
industry representatives, and privacy advocates.  Flaherty is expected to
give his first public assessment of the government's controversial
_Pharmanet_ system.

This system is a data bak containing the complete prescription drug
histories of all B.C. residents.  When operational (now scheduled for
July 1, 1994), the system will require all pharmacists to look at a person's drug
history before filling a prescription.
Government and industry proponents
of the _Pharmanet_ claim that it will save money, check for contra-indicated
prescriptions, and catch prescription drug abusers.

But critics see it otherwise.  The B.C. Civil Liberties Association and the
B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association caution that the
_Pharmanet_ system is a privacy disaster just waiting to happen.  They are
concerned not only about leaks of such sensitive information, but about the
forced disclosure of it to pharmacists.

Said BCCLA Executive Director John Westwood, "Consent to the disclosure
of personal information is a basic principle of privacy.  The more sensitive
the information, the greater the requirement for citizens' consent to
anyone's access to it.

"The information on _Pharmanet_ is some of the most sensitive and
potentially damaging information collected by the government.  People's
careers and personal lives are at stake.  Why shouldn't a person be able to
have a simple prescription filled without being forced to reveal their
complete drug history?  What if they know the pharmacist personally, or
have an HIV infection?"  (See attached).

Westwood and FIPE President Darrell Evans will also speak at the meeting, which will be held at the Hotel Vancouver, March 17, 1994,
starting at 8:30 a.m.

			-- 30 --

	 For additional information, contact:

	 John Westwood, BCCLA, Executive Director  (604) 687-3013 or -2919


THREE HYPOTHETICAL PHARMANET SCENARIOS

A.	After returning to her small home town, a woman develops a
	bladder infection.  The doctor at the emergency ward
	prescribes an antibiotic, and the woman goes to the single
	pharmacy in town only to find that an old high school friend is
	the pharmacist.  Her entire drug history is then revealed to that
	friend, including psychiatric drugs and narcotics.  The doctor in
	emergency did not ask about these, as they were (and still are)
	irrelevant to her bladder infection.

B.	A man with AIDS visiting his small home town sprains his
	ankle; his trusted family doctor prescribes an anti-
	inflammatory medication by phone to the local pharmacy.  The
	man's aunt works as a pharmacy assistant and will see his
	drug profile, including AZT, when he goes to pick up the
	medication.  He has not yet told his family of the diagnosis.

C.	A drug abuser has a painful dental procedure and is
	prescribed mild narcotics by the oral surgeon.  At the
	pharmacy his drug profile shows numerous narcotics in the past,
	and methadone for the past three months.  What does the
	pharmacist do:  call the surgeon?  call the police? confront the
	client and demand an explanation?