Final answer:
Under HIPPA, it is generally permissible to fax patient information to another healthcare provider or insurer. However, there are legal and ethical considerations involved, such as patient privacy rights and balancing the needs of minors with their parents.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), it is generally permissible to fax information about a patient to another healthcare provider or insurer, as long as the recipient has a legitimate need for the information and appropriate safeguards are in place to protect patient privacy. However, there are legal considerations and ethical dilemmas involved. The HIPPA requires strict confidentiality of patient records, so disclosing a patient's diagnosis without their consent may violate their privacy rights. When it comes to minors, physicians may need to balance the adolescent's desire for confidentiality with the parents' right to know, especially when it involves notifying a sexual partner.