Captain Street,

xx The pharmacy records of 2,000 patients were found recently on a used computer bought by C.J. Prime, of Pahrump, NV, demonstrating the growing concerns about privacy in the information age. Apparently, software used by the pharmacy at Smitty's Supermarkets in Tempe, AZ, was still on the computer, including records of patient's names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and medicines they had bought. "I know a lot of people would be devastated if they knew this kind of information was floating around," said Prime. She reported that the records included prescriptions for AZT for AIDS patients and Antabuse for alcoholics, as well as antidepressants and psychotropic drugs. Prime has since launched a campaign to alert authorities to the privacy issue. No national regulations exist about data storage on computers that are resold, but some states--excluding Arizona--have medical confidentiality laws that would require the memory to be erased. "Inmates of City Jails to View Videos About HIV Prevention" Houston Chronicle (04/03/97) P. 27A; Mason, Julie The Houston City Council voted Wednesday in favor of accepting federal funds for HIV prevention programs, including educational videos, for city jails. A vigorous debate over the program was partly due to false information that it would include role-playing and instructions for using condoms. Councilman Rob Todd voted against the measure, contending that inmates should be disciplined, not educated. "The purpose for being in jail is to be punished, not enlightened," he said. A 1992 study found that 6 percent of inmates in the Harris County jail tested positive for HIV, compared to 1 percent in the general Houston population.