Patients Sue Anvisa for Data Exposure

By Caroline Apple

At least 30 patients authorized by Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) to import Cannabis-based medications are filing a lawsuit against the agency due to the exposure of personal data in an email sent by the agency.

Patients who requested renewal of authorizations received an email stating that the validity of their requests had been extended for another year, according to the agency's new rules approved in January of this year.

However, each email contained over 500 other addresses in copy, who also received the information about the renewal. Associations conducted a basic survey and found that over 1,900 patient emails were leaked.

According to lawyer Ítalo Coelho Alencar, who is part of the Reform collective providing legal services to medical marijuana patients in various states of the country, patients fear being targeted for advertising by companies and pharmacies that sell Cannabis-based products and also for some form of retaliation, given the still hostile environment in Brazil regarding marijuana.

"We are finalizing the thesis to file a damages reparation lawsuit. The actions are both collective and individual. Patients who are part of registered associations can be represented by them," explains the lawyer.

Among these patients feeling aggrieved is 45-year-old designer Lissandro Garrido from Rio de Janeiro (RJ). Garrido has Anvisa's authorization to import Cannabis oil to help alleviate symptoms of multiple sclerosis. After having his data exposed, the designer decided to take legal action.

"I was shocked by Anvisa's disregard for people's privacy. The use of marijuana as medicine is a delicate issue in the country. I thought about people with family problems who had their privacy exposed. I was concerned about starting to receive advertising or calls from companies interested in selling the oil," says Garrido.

Another patient filing a lawsuit against Anvisa is 31-year-old psychologist Alice Siebra de Castro from Fortaleza (CE), who suffers from chronic pain and uses Cannabis oil to relieve the pressure that rises from her shoulder and settles in her head.

"I hope this damage can be repaired and have a pedagogical effect so that the State starts treating citizens' data more carefully. And that Anvisa finally regulates and universalizes Cannabis treatment so that we no longer go through this kind of embarrassment," says the psychologist.

Sechat contacted Anvisa to comment on the matter, however, the agency stated that it would not be able to respond within the timeframe proposed by the portal. If the agency responds, the statement will be included in the article.