By Kim Stanger

Recent cases have highlighted the conflict that may occur when police seek access to patients or patient information. Here are some general guidelines for physicians and other healthcare providers when facing demands from police or other law enforcement officials.

Disclosing Patient Information. The HIPAA privacy rules (45 CFR § 164.501 et seq.) generally prohibit healthcare providers from disclosing protected health information to law enforcement officials without the patient’s written authorization unless certain conditions are met. HIPAA allows disclosures for law enforcement purposes in the following cases:

1. Court Order, Warrant, Subpoena, or Administrative Process. A provider may disclose information in response to a court order, warrant, subpoena or other administrative process if certain conditions are satisfied. (45 CFR § 164.512(f)(1)(ii)). These situations are discussed more fully in our separate client alert here.
2. Avert Harm. A provider may disclose information to law enforcement to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of an individual or the public. (45 CFR § 164.512(j)(1)(i)). Many states have specific statutes authorizing or requiring providers to make disclosures when credible threats are made against third parties.
3. Required by Law. A provider may disclose information to law enforcement when a law requires the disclosure, e.g., to report child or adult abuse or neglect, injuries from gunshots or criminal activity, etc. Providers should comply with the strict terms of the law, and not disclose more than is required by the law. (45 CFR § 164.512(a), (f)(1)(i); see also § 164.512(b)(1)(ii) (child abuse) and § 164.512(c) (adult abuse)).
4. Facility Directory. HIPAA generally allows, but does not require, providers to disclose limited information to persons who ask for a patient by name unless the patient has objected to such disclosures or the provider believes that the disclosure is not in the patient’s best interests. (See 45 CFR § 164.510). The provider may only disclose the patient’s name, general condition, and location in the facility. (Id.).
5. Identify Person. If law enforcement requests information to help identify or locate a suspect, fugitive, material witness or missing person, a provider may disclose the following limited information: name and address, date and place of birth, social security number, ABO blood type and rh factor, type of injury, date and time of treatment, date and time of death, and a description of distinguishing physical characteristics. Other information related to the individual’s DNA, dental records, body fluid or tissue typing, samples, or analysis cannot be disclosed under this provision, but may be disclosed in response to a court order, warrant, or written administrative request. (45 CFR § 164.512(f)(2)). The disclosure must be in response to a request from law enforcement, which may include a response to a “wanted” poster or bulletin.
6. Victim of a Crime. If law enforcement requests information about a person who is suspected of being a victim of a crime, a provider may disclose information if: (a) the individual agrees to the disclosure, or (b) the officer represents that the information is necessary to determine whether someone other than the victim has committed a crime, the information will not be used against the victim, the information is needed immediately and the law enforcement activity would be adversely affected by waiting to obtain the victim’s agreement, and the provider determines it is in the victim’s best interest to disclose the information. (45 CFR § 164.512(f)(3)).
7. Death. A provider may disclose information to notify law enforcement about the death of an individual if the provider believes the death may have resulted from a crime.
8. Crime on Premises. A provider may disclose information to law enforcement if the provider believes the information evidences criminal conduct on the provider’s premises. (45 CFR § 164.512(f)(5)).
9. Crime Away from Premises. If, in the course of responding to an off-site medical emergency, providers become aware of criminal activity, they may disclose certain information to police as necessary to alert law enforcement to the criminal activity, including information about the commission and nature of the crime, the location of the crime or any victims, and the identity, description, and location of the perpetrator of the crime. (45 CFR § 164.512(f)(6)).
10. Report by Victim. If a person affiliated with the provider is the victim of a crime, the person may disclose information necessary to report the crime to law enforcement; however, the person may only disclose the limited information listed in 45 CFR § 164.512(f)(2)(i). (45 CFR § 164.502(j)(2)).
11. Admission of Violent Crime. If a person has admitted participation in a violent crime that a provider reasonably believes may have caused serious physical harm to a victim, a provider may disclose information to law enforcement necessary to identify or apprehend the person, provided that the admission was not made in the course of or based on the individual’s request for therapy, counseling, or treatment related to the propensity to commit this type of violent act. (45 CFR § 164.512(j)(1)(ii)(A), (j)(2)-(3)).
12. Fugitive. A provider may disclose information to law enforcement to identify or apprehend an individual who appears to have escaped from lawful custody. (45 CFR § 164.512(j)(1)(ii)(B)).
13. Prisoners. If law enforcement or a correctional institution requests protected health information about an inmate or person in lawful custody, a provider may disclose information if police represents such information is needed to provide health care to the individual; for the health and safety of the individual, other inmates, officers or employees of or others at a correctional institution or responsible for the transporting or transferring inmates; or for the administration and maintenance of the safety, security, and good order of the correctional facility, including police on the premises of the facility. (45 CFR § 164.512(k)(5)).
14. Medical Examiners and Coroners. A provider may disclose information about a decedent to medical examiners or coroners to assist them in identifying the decedent, determining the cause of death, or to carry out their other authorized duties. (45 CFR § 164.512(g)(1)).

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