1. Would the the Privacy Rule have prevented me from finding out information about my son in a hospital in New York during the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001?
2. When my family member comes to pick me up from the hospital, the doctor will still be
3. What information can health care providers disclose to family members or other relatives/friends who are involved in the care of the patient?
4. What types of consents or approvals must health care providers obtain from the patient prior to using/disclosing information to persons involved in the health care of the patient?
5. Who is entitled to receive another persons personal health information when consent has been given by an individual?
6. Are health care providers required to verify that these family members or friends are who they say they are?
7. Are health care providers required to document disclosures to family/friends involved in the patient's care?
8. If the patient allowed health care providers to disclose information to a particular person in the past, may the health care provider assume that is okay to do so at a later time?
9. Are there any special rules if health care providers suspect the person seeking information may have abused the patient?
10. Are health care providers permitted to disclose psychotherapy notes to family or close friends involved in the patient's care?