National Patients Rights Association

[jamieuke]

April 17, 2012, 2:20 p.m. EDT

National Patients' Rights Association Opposes Privacy Change to Michigan

Medical Marihuana Act

 

DETROIT, April 17, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The National Patients

Rights Association (NPRA)--a Michigan-based alliance of leading medical

marijuana advocates working to protect patient rights--today announced

strong opposition to proposed legislative changes to the Michigan

Medical Marihuana Act that would directly violate patients' and

caregivers' civil and constitutional rights, privileges and protections.

 

Specifically, it opposes Michigan House Bill's 4851, 4853, and 4856. The

NPRA also strongly opposes HB 4834, which is sponsored by Gail Haines -

(primary) Joe Haveman, Ed McBroom, Ray Franz, Kenneth Horn, Brad

Jacobsen, Peter MacGregor, Marty Knollenberg, Jon Bumstead, Wayne A.

Schmidt, Ben Glardon, Paul Opsommer, Greg MacMaster, Chuck Moss, Matt

Huuki, Hugh D. Crawford, Eileen Kowall, Lesia Liss, Kurt Heise, Kevin

Cotter, and Sharon Tyler. Under the proposed legislation, the most

troubling, HB 4834, will allow officers or security personnel to easily

gain access to the registry without a warrant, as is currently required.

Patient and caregiver information would no longer be strictly

confidential, and their private medical treatment choice will be

available to a near endless list of authorized officials, including

security personnel or recreation officers hired by the State or local

townships.

 

The NPRA strongly believes that every aspect of an individual's health

information should be equally governed by the Health Insurance

Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which provides nationally

recognized regulations for the use/disclosure of an individual's health

information.

 

"We are extremely discouraged by the thought process behind this

proposed legislation," said NPRA spokesman, Adam Macdonald. "It becomes

very problematic and dangerous when elected representatives begin a

process of selecting what portions of an individual's private health

care information should now become readily accessibly. As with all

health care information, safeguards must exist to protect the

confidentiality, integrity and availability of protected information."

 

The NPRA is backed by patients, caregivers, businesses and a range of

other supporters. Collectively, the coalition is working to broaden

awareness, reach legislators in a targeted manner, and help mobilize

patients and caregivers who are affected by current and proposed medical

marijuana laws. A key objective of the coalition is a push for

definitive regulation in terms of standardization -- ranging from safety

and storage needs, document management requirements, privacy, and

overall industry standards and procedures.

 

For more information please visit: www.nprausa.com . You can also call

1-855-444-6772 for information on how to contact your state representative.

 

SOURCE The National Patients Rights Association (NPRA)

 

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