Ethics & Law · single question
A law enforcement officer arrives with proper documentation and a valid legal court order requesting a patient's dental records. What should the dentist do?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Provide the records and also notify the patient that the records were released
Under HIPAA, a valid court order is a permissible reason to disclose protected health information (PHI) without patient authorization. When a valid court order is presented, the dentist is legally required to comply. However, best practice and many state laws recommend notifying the patient of the disclosure when not prohibited by the order itself. The dentist should provide only the minimum necessary information specified in the order and document the disclosure in the patient's record. Refusing a valid court order or delaying to consult a lawyer (without cause) would be inappropriate.