Citizens' Council on Health Care Raises Medical and Genetic Privacy Concerns at Hearings Today and Monday

Minneapolis --- To sound the alarm on two proposals set to intrude on citizen privacy, the Citizens' Council on Health Care (CCHC) will testify today at the legislature...and on Monday before an administrative law judge.

"Too many times privacy issues get ignored in the rush to make policy. We're very pleased that Rep. Kohls has decided to discuss the medical privacy and personal autonomy issues surrounding genetic research and the Governor's biotechnology initiative," said Twila Brase, president of CCHC.

She continued, "We're also pleased that the Minnesota Department of Health has been forced to hold a public hearing on plans to expand government surveillance on unsuspecting citizens."

TODAY:

Topic: Ethics and Genomics (Governor's Biotechnology initiative)
Date: Today, Thursday, February 10
Committee: Technology, Bioscience and Medical Products Division, House Commerce Committee
Chair: Rep. Paul Kohls
Room: 200 State Office Building
Address: 100 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul
Time: 12:30 - 2:30 hearing

MONDAY:

Topic: Communicable Disease Reporting Rule - Public hearing on amendments to expand surveillance authority
Date: Monday, February 14, 2005
Presiding: Judge Barbara Neilson
Room: Chesley Room
Place: Minnesota Department of Health
Address: 717 Delaware St. SE, Mpls.
Time: Begins at 9:00 a.m.

The public is invited to attend. An opportunity to testify will be offered.