A Pennsylvania doctor lost in federal district court on his claim that a state law preventing him from informing his patients of the dangers of hydraulic fracturing. The judge wrote that the doctor failed to show that the law, in fact, restrained him from communicating with patients. (Courthouse News Service, October 31, 2013, by Rose Bouboushian)
Dr. Alfonso Rodriguez filed the lawsuit against state officials i9n 2012 contending that the law forces doctors to sign confidentiality agreements not to relay information about the nature of the fluids used in fracking, information that the oil and gas industry considers a trade secret. Rodriguez is a kidney specialist concerned about the purity of water sources in areas hit by fracking. (AllGov, August 2, 2012, by Noel Brinkerhoff)