So the same systems that verify if a potato chip is bad couldn't do a quick visual inspection of each pill, make sure it's the right shape, size, color, and has the correct markings?

Seems like there are already industrial systems in place that can handle this - no need to do so much as reinvent the technology!

Not true!

While human error like you describe above certainly exists, these systems can also catch drug allergy interactions, drug-to-drug interactions, and even food-drug interactions. Along with the already-existing systems in most pharmacies, these systems provide another layer of protection for patients. They also provide doctors with real-time best-cost analyses, allowing them to prescribe the most effective, least expensive drugs based on a patient's particular drug coverage. This may help to lower the overall price of healthcare and insurance coverage.

Protection from the errors you describe isn't technologically insurmountable, either. Robotic systems that are linked to the prescription and automatically fill prescriptions eliminate the pharmacy errors, and EMRs that provide diagnosis/drug checking are likely right around the corner. Doctors don't like the latter much, however, because they are perceived as taking too much of the medical process out of their hands.

Disclaimer: I work in the field, but am NOT associated with any particular vendor.

Even more effective than stand-alone eRx systems are Electronic Medical Record systems with integrated eprescribing. The ability to better track & manage patients' problems longitudinally provides for much better care and better outcomes.

I recognize that there are, however, some fairly major privacy concerns....many of which still exist at the ePrescribing level. Let's face it, if a system knows what you're taking, it doesn't take huge logical leaps to deduce your underlying conditions.

The fact that 3 million people are in jail (1% of our population!) is a testament to many things, but us standing up for ourselves isn't one of them. It's a testament to a drug policy gone wrong, to government laws & regulations that can make ANYONE a criminal, to victim-less crimes being prosecuted at increasing rates...

But if you truly do trust the government over your neighbors, then I pity you. We need to stand together with our neighbors. Instead, we let the distinction between D and R (or L, like me!) foster our mistrust and hatred of one another.

In the real world, faced with $244,000,000 in lawsuits, the contractor folds up and declares bankruptcy.

Then everyone will have a laugh and the taxpayers will pick up the tab.

Lovely PLUMAGE, the Norweigan Blue!

I would GLADLY pay $10 a month for ESPN's offerings via the web.

I would likely pay MORE than that for online offerings of the NCAA football season, streamed over the web.

I would suggest that Sony and other developers base their statistical analysis on game time, etc. on the TRUE lifespan of a sold copy, including used sales, instead of solely on first-sale plays. Then they can come up with a true pricing model based on the very legal practice of the sale of used games, instead of trying to circumvent gamers' rights.

Thank you, Encyclopedia Brown!

Libertarians are right-wing economically, but more left on social issues.

We're actually kind of right-wing extremist AND left-wing extremist. Makes us awfully fun at parties! ;-)