Whalen v. Roe
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Summary

In this 1977 case, the Supreme Court upheld New York’s prescription drug registry, ruling that storing patient data to curb misuse doesn’t violate privacy rights.

1977 | Federal Juristiction

Whalen v. Roe

Keywords privacy rights; prescription drug registry; patient data; data storage; drug misuse; privacy violation
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Summary

The 1977 Supreme Court decision concerning New York's prescription drug registry established a precedent supporting state interests in data collection for public health purposes. The court determined that the state's compelling interest in combating drug misuse outweighed individual privacy concerns arising from the mandated data storage. This ruling significantly impacted the legal landscape regarding the balance between public health initiatives and individual privacy rights in the context of personal health information.

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Summary

The 1977 Supreme Court case affirmed the legality of New York's prescription drug registry. The court determined that a state's interest in tracking prescription drugs to combat misuse outweighs individual privacy concerns arising from data collection. This ruling established a precedent for the balance between public health and individual rights in the context of personal health information.

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The New York Prescription Drug Registry Case

In 1977, the Supreme Court sided with New York State's new prescription drug registry. The Court decided that keeping records of patient prescriptions to prevent drug abuse did not break any privacy laws.

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Summary

In 1977, the Supreme Court said it was okay for New York to keep a list of who gets what medicines. The Court decided that keeping this information to stop people from misusing drugs didn't break anyone's privacy rules.

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Footnotes and Citation

Cite

429 U.S. 589 (1977)

Highlights