Under what circumstances can health information be disclosed without patient consent?

The disclosure of health information without patient consent is permissible when it is required by law, such as in situations involving court orders or mandatory reporting. This includes circumstances where healthcare providers are obligated to report certain information to authorities, such as cases of child abuse, infectious diseases, or other serious threats to public health and safety. In these instances, the law mandates that certain details must be shared to protect the welfare of individuals or the community, thus superseding the need for patient consent.

In contrast, a patient requesting their own information, or a family member asking for it, does not qualify as a circumstance under which disclosure can occur without consent, as consent is generally required for these scenarios. Similarly, the provider's personal judgment about what is deemed necessary does not serve as grounds for unauthorized disclosure, as patient confidentiality rights must still be upheld.