Final answer:
When disclosing patient's protected health information for various purposes such as clinical trials, fundraising, or communication, obtaining prior consent from the patient is necessary under HIPAA guidelines and the principle of autonomy.
Step-by-step explanation:
When disclosing a patient's protected health information to an employer, family member, friend, lawyer, for use in clinical trials, marketing, fundraising, or mass communication, consent from the patient is typically required. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) mandates the protection of patient information and limits usage and disclosure of such information to scenarios where it's necessary, or where the patient has given explicit authorization. The Principle of autonomy in clinical settings and trials also asserts that patients must exercise self-determination regarding participation, which is supported by their informed consent.
If researchers aim to include patients in studies or use their data, they must obtain informed consent, which involves fully informing participants about the study's risks, benefits, and the right to privacy. This ensures that participation is voluntary and that participants are aware of how their information will be used, shared, or if it will be kept confidential. Fundraisers and marketers must also obtain explicit permission from patients before using their health information for such purposes, to respect and protect the privacy of an individual's personal health data.