The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 272 No 7299 p607
15 May 2004

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· Pharmacy education
· Prostate problems
· Indemnity insurance
· The register
· The Journal
· The profession
· Energy expenditure

Letters to the Editor

The register

Members could request that their full postal addresses be withheld

From Ms P. H. Brompton, MRPharmS

The Council of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society has decided that publication of the annual register with full members’ addresses should cease. Apart from its significance historically and for future generations, this hinders communication between members of the Society. On contacting the Society, I was informed that the decision was in line with data protection requirements and that there had been concerns from some members (an unspecified number) about personal safety.

I have spoken to the Information Commissioner’s Office and data protection does not have such influence over the publication of a long-standing register except to suggest that any persons wishing to have their personal details excluded, eg, an address, may achieve this by written request to the Society. This therefore provides a solution for any members who feel so vulnerable that they consider themselves to be at risk.

It should be simple for the Society to include a box on the annual retention fee form for members to request an address to be withheld from public circulation in the same way as the electoral roll now operates, thus giving all members a personal choice, not an imposition by the Council. John Hunt (PJ, 13 March, p317) and Bruce Rhodes (PJ, 21 February, p216) should be applauded for bringing this imposition to the notice of the membership.

Another option perhaps to be considered is restricting certain details to members only on the Society’s website.

P. H. Brompton
York

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