The Supreme Court will hear a case concerning a Vermont law that prohibits data mining companies from using physicians' prescription records for marketing purposes, according to a New York Times news report.
Data mining companies, such as IMS Health, collect physician records and use the data to analyze physicians' prescribing patterns. In turn, pharmaceutical companies purchase and use the analysis to call physicians and market their products to them, according to the news report.
A federal district court upheld the statute after IMS Health and two other data mining firms challenged the Vermont law. However, an appellate court reversed the ruling last November, and the case is now scheduled to go before the high court. In the trial, the Supreme Court will hear arguments over whether Vermont's law violates the First Amendment's protection of free speech.
Read the news report about Vermont's law on data mining physician records.
Read other coverage about pain management:
- Researchers Shed Light on Lack of Screening Tools for Opioid Adherence
- Boston Scientific's Neuromodulation Sales Increased 14% in Q1 FY 2011
- New REMS Part of Government Plan to Contain Prescription Drug Abuse
Data mining companies, such as IMS Health, collect physician records and use the data to analyze physicians' prescribing patterns. In turn, pharmaceutical companies purchase and use the analysis to call physicians and market their products to them, according to the news report.
A federal district court upheld the statute after IMS Health and two other data mining firms challenged the Vermont law. However, an appellate court reversed the ruling last November, and the case is now scheduled to go before the high court. In the trial, the Supreme Court will hear arguments over whether Vermont's law violates the First Amendment's protection of free speech.
Read the news report about Vermont's law on data mining physician records.
Read other coverage about pain management:
- Researchers Shed Light on Lack of Screening Tools for Opioid Adherence
- Boston Scientific's Neuromodulation Sales Increased 14% in Q1 FY 2011
- New REMS Part of Government Plan to Contain Prescription Drug Abuse