Does HIPAA permit a doctor to contact a patient’s family or law enforcement if the doctor believes that the patient might hurt herself or someone else?
Yes. The Privacy Rule permits a health care provider to [...]
May a covered entity collect, use, and disclose criminal justice data under HIPAA?
Does HIPAA permit health care providers who are HIPAA covered [...]
When does HIPAA allow a hospital to notify an individual’s family, friends, or caregivers that a patient who has been hospitalized for a psychiatric hold has been admitted or discharged?
Hospitals may notify family, friends, or caregivers of a patient [...]
If an adult patient who may pose a danger to self stops coming to psychotherapy sessions and does not respond to attempts to make contact, does HIPAA permit the therapist to contact a family member to check on the patient’s well-being even if the patient has told the therapist that they do not want information shared with that person?
Yes, under two possible circumstances: Given that the patient is [...]
When does HIPAA allow a doctor to notify an individual’s family, friends, or caregivers that a patient has overdosed?
As explained more thoroughly below, when a patient has overdosed, [...]
If a health care provider knows that a patient with a serious mental illness has stopped taking a prescribed medication, can the provider tell the patient’s family members?
So long as the patient does not object, HIPAA allows [...]
When does mental illness or another mental condition constitute incapacity under the Privacy Rule? For example, what if a patient who is experiencing temporary psychosis or is intoxicated does not have the capacity to agree or object to a health care provider sharing information with a family member, but the provider believes the disclosure is in the patient’s best interests?
Section 164.510(b)(3) of the HIPAA Privacy Rule permits a health [...]
Is a health care provider permitted to discuss an adult patient’s mental health information with the patient’s parents or other family members?
In situations where the patient is given the opportunity and [...]
Does HIPAA allow a health care provider to communicate with a patient’s family, friends, or other persons who are involved in the patient’s care?
Yes. In recognition of the integral role that family and [...]
Does a parent have a right to receive a copy of psychotherapy notes about a child’s mental health treatment?
No. The Privacy Rule distinguishes between mental health information in [...]