OCR guidance issued informing patients when HIPAA may permit a healthcare provider to notify family, friends, or other caregivers about a patient's location and general condition.
Emergencies
Families and healthcare professionals often have questions about what information can be shared when a client needs emergency medical care, or when the client is in crisis, incapacitated, or poses a serious and imminent threat of harm to themselves or others. The resources in this section are meant to clarify what information can be shared, and with whom, during an emergency situation or when an imminent threat of harm exists.
Emergencies resources
OCR guidance explaining when HIPAA permits health and mental health providers to make decisions about communicating with a patient's family and friends based on their professional judgment about what is best for the patient.
Guidance issued by HHS explaining when a health care provider has a duty to notify family or law enforcement authorities if a provider believes that a patient may hurt themselves or others.
OCR guidance explaining when MH professionals can share information in order to treat patients and prevent them from harming themselves or others.