Final answer:
The HIPAA Privacy Rule is triggered when a therapist discloses patient information without their consent, violating their privacy rights. This rule applies universally to all patients and healthcare providers must protect patients' medical information as permitted by law.
Step-by-step explanation:
The HIPAA Privacy Rule is triggered when a therapist discloses patient information without their consent. This rule mandates that healthcare providers protect the privacy of patients by safeguarding their medical information and only using or disclosing it as permitted by law.
In the given scenario, if a therapist contacts a patient's sexual partners without the patient's consent and reveals their diagnosis, it would be a violation of the patient's privacy rights under the HIPAA Privacy Rule. This is because the therapist is disclosing the patient's protected health information to a third party without authorization.
The rule applies universally to all patients and does not depend on the severity of the disease. It is essential for therapists to respect and protect their patients' privacy rights while providing necessary treatments and care.