Question

Internal disclosures of patient information for patient care purposes should not be granted

A. to the facility's legal counsel.
B. to the attending physician.
C. on a need to know basis.
D. to a family member who is a registered nurse at the facility.

Answer 1

Patient information disclosures for care purposes should be limited to those with a direct need to know; family relationships do not automatically justify access. HIPAA governs such disclosures and emphasizes the protection of patient privacy.

Step-by-step explanation:

Internal disclosures of patient information for patient care purposes should not be granted to a family member who is a registered nurse at the facility unless they are directly involved in the patient's care and have a legitimate need to know basis related to patient treatment.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) mandates the safeguarding of patient information by health professionals; access is restricted strictly to purposes of treatment, operations, and payment and only to individuals who must be privy to the information for those purposes. Disclosures to the facility's legal counsel may be necessary for legal defense or other significant issues, but this decision requires careful examination of the situation.