NEFAC Cautions Maine CDC on Dangers of Proposed Health Data Disclosure Restrictions

The New England First Amendment Coalition urged the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention today to reconsider proposed policy changes that would severely curtail the right of Maine residents to know the location of disease outbreaks in their communities.

“While these changes are intended to protect the privacy of individuals, they are neither necessary nor helpful to the public’s response to infectious disease outbreaks. Worse, they may jeopardize the safety of those who would otherwise learn of potential risks to their health,” wrote Justin Silverman, NEFAC’s executive director, in a July 25 letter to the center. Continue…

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