But regulators say some offshore sites dodge that law. A robot moves between drug dispensers while processing orders. In addition to the security concerns of transmitting medical information over the Web, some regulators fear drug companies and the alternative medicine industry will use the sites to promote their latest cures. The sites brim with health care information and disease management pages for up to 100 afflictions. Some even have chat rooms where people with chronic conditions such as diabetes and asthma can talk to each other and compare notes on treatment options.
Most sites use e-mail reminders when it is time to order refills.
They notify customers of new information posted on their sites that is customized to the patient's medical profile. Physicians worry it will lead to more self-diagnosis. This could be dangerous if they e-mail all heart patients suggestions of other medications only to get people to buy more drugs. People should not shop for health care needs like they do for Christmas presents. Florida regulators are investigating the practices of some online pharmacies, but decline to identify them until the investigation is done.