Healthy Skepticism Library item: 7764

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Young D.
FTC-Lilly settlement sheds light on e-mail privacy with patients.
Am J Health Syst Pharm 2002 Mar 15; 59:(6):509
http://www.ajhp.org/

Abstract:

The recent settlement of a case brought by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) against a pharmaceutical company offers health care providers some guidance about maintaining patients’ privacy when electronically communicating with them. From March 15, 2000, until June 22, 2001, Eli Lilly & Co. offered consumers an e-mail reminder service known as Medi-messenger. Subscribers received e-mails from the company reminding them to take their Prozac or refill their prescription for the medication. But when Lilly decided to discontinue the service last summer, one of its employees, according to FTC, sent a form e-mail to subscribers that included all of their e-mail addresses. Soon after, the American Civil Liberties Union petitioned FTC to investigate whether the company had violated its written privacy policy and federal trade laws when it disclosed the e-mail addresses of 669 Prozac users.

Keywords:
Access to Information Computer Communication Networks/legislation & jurisprudence* Computer Security/legislation & jurisprudence Confidentiality/legislation & jurisprudence* Drug Industry/legislation & jurisprudence* Humans Liability, Legal United States United States Federal Trade Commission