A federal judge in Maine has, in the words of the Bangor Daily News, “overturned a new state law that restricts access by medical data companies to doctors' prescription information.”

Tarren Bragdon, of the Maine Heritage Policy Center, has previously criticized the bill by citing its potentially harmful effects on patient health:

Supporters of this law argue that restricting this prescriber-level data will block pharmaceutical sales representatives from using this data to persuade doctors and others to prescribing more expensive drugs.

However, the reality is that by knowing which physicians are prescribing particular medications is an efficient and confidential means in which to target those doctors treating certain types of individuals. By being able to identify physicians, those with patients who would benefit can be quickly contacted about new medications, the latest treatment research and innovation drug trials.

In response, the News ran another op-ed supporting the law by repeating the adage that profits are bad and new drugs are nothing but ways for pharmaceutical companies to fatten their coffers.

New drugs are not for every person in every situation better than old ones. But the alleged conflict between profit-seeking behavior and consumer health is best mediated by physicians and consumers consulting together—not by politicians.