http://www.emailcontact.com/nl/nl-output.php?nl_id=74579&bus_id=2125&plain=0

This is the update (and, by the way, this bill WILL have to go back to the Senate for their review if it passes the House):

http://www.emailcontact.com/nl/nl-output.php?nl_id=74593&bus_id=2125&plain=0

If it’s allowed, could you post a link to the news letter. Every body in Georgia needs to read this one about HB 614. If not, one of those with front page posting privileges might pick it up, with your permission of course.

My Senator, Jim Butterworth voted no the first time.

Here is how all Senators voted.

http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/votes/sv0336.htm

Honorable Representatives,

I have received word that the House plans to resurrect HB 614 [in the form of an amendment for consideration tomorrow](links to this article), Sine Die. I wanted to let each of you know that I consider this bill and any similar amendments to be one of the most egregious violations of medical privacy since government decided it had a right to get involved in abortion. I most strenuously oppose this bill and and similar amendments, and I urge you NOT to violate your constituents’ right to privacy.

Also, I would highly recommend watching the this video of the Senate debate on the issue, both of Senators Smith and Shafer’s exchange as well as Senator Smith’s very eloquent speech from the well in opposition to this bill.

Thank you for your time,

Dark Knight Begins (signed with real name)

Doug,

Peach Pundit is reporting that HB614 might be coming back up for a vote in the House, even though it was defeated in the Senate. While I understand the purpose of HB 614 and its intent to cut back on prescription drug abuse, I think this is not the least restrictive means to do so. The American Cancer Society has also said that this type of law has a chilling effect on Doctors. I think instead we should focus on the doctor level, monitoring the doctor’s and the number and type of prescriptions that are handing them out. This bill, I fear, would allow Georgia Drug and Narcotics Agency into the private medical records of the citizens. While we agree on most issue, I hope you understand my opposition to this bill. I hope you will give it more consideration before you vote if it does come back up

The Republicans of the US House and the US Senate believed that.

If you think this will not have a chilling effect on Medical Doctors, you better think again. If you believe the government will protect your privacy of online medical records and only use them to “do good” you are NUTS.

Meaning by and large, your rep voted for it the first time. CONTACT THEM NOW and tell them to NOT repeat that mistake!!

Yes, we need to contact all representatives. This bill was misrepresented on the House floor the first time. The sponsor of the bill stated at the well that this bill is about preventing teenagers from abusing narcotics that they find in their parent’s medicine cabinets. I have talked to several State Reps who didn’t even realize they had voted for this until well after it passed. We need to let the Reps know what this bill is really about and give them a heads up that it will probably be misrepresented again.

Ritalin (Schedule II)
Percocet (Schedule II)
Lyrica (Schedule V)
Lunesta (Schedule IV)

Frankly, folks, if this passes, someone’s going to have to explain to me what’s Republican about this?

Someone’s getting BIG money for sponsoring this. Sharon Cooper and Ron Stephens are the co-sponsors. Cooper is a registered nurse, and Stephens is a pharmacist.

Neither one is qualified enough to issue a prescription to treat a patient, but, apparently, they seek to devalue the role a trained physician has to do so.

In the words of comedian Lewis Black: “That’s Effed-UP!”