Post #1049304

2026-04-04 12:42 UTC

I just had to buy on over-the-counter home medical test kit, and the only option they had was a digital one. That means they increased the cost of the kit to put in disposable electronics (destined to become e-waste) so they can force me to install an app (who knows what tracking they're doing?) and endure ads for telehealth and prescription drugs just to get the results. WTF?! This is disgusting, and should 100% be illegal.

Replies (2)

@abucci@buc.ci 2026-04-04 14:22

@ngaylinn@tech.lgbt I don't know if this explains your specific experience, but generally speaking there's a fairly large loophole in pharma regulation that leads to stuff like this. Basically if you produce a pharmaceutical or bio-based product, you can artificially extend its patent by combining it with a digital artifact and rebranding it as a medical device. It's also cheaper, faster, and easier to obtain FDA approval for medical devices than for other types of products. I've come across this numerous times in my consulting works as well as at the startup I cofounded (where I heard this strategy explained from the horse's mouth so to speak). I agree completely that none of this is good!

Open ##1490118
@paleblueyedot@tech.lgbt 2026-04-05 14:34

@ngaylinn is this even HIPPA compliant?

Open ##1490119