What information can be shared without consent?

When can information be shared without a client's consent?

You can share confidential information without consent if it is required by law, or directed by a court, or if the benefits to a child or young person that will arise from sharing the information outweigh both the public and the individual's interest in keeping the information confidential.

What are three common HIPAA violations?

Three common HIPAA violations involve improper disclosure (sharing PHI without authorization, even discussing it in public), inadequate data security (unencrypted devices, unsecured cloud apps, lost laptops), and mishandling records (improper disposal, denying patient access, or unauthorized employee snooping). These violations stem from failures to protect Protected Health Information (PHI) through insufficient safeguards, lack of training, or neglecting security rules like encryption. 

What personal information should not be shared?

Sharing sensitive information such as your address, phone number, family members' names, car information, passwords, work history, credit status, social security numbers, birth date, school names, passport information, driver's license numbers, insurance policy numbers, loan numbers, credit/ debit card numbers, PIN ...

What are the three exceptions to confidentiality?

There are three exceptions where confidentiality might be waived without a consent: 1) client is an immediate danger to self or others (i.e. suicide or homicide); 2) there is suspected child or elder abuse, neglect or maltreatment; 3) in legal cases, information may be subpoenaed by the court.

What information is considered a breach of privacy?

A breach of privacy is the unauthorized collection, access, use, or disclosure of an individual's personal, sensitive information, violating their right to control their data, often involving PII (Personally Identifiable Information) like SSNs, health records, or financial details, and can be accidental (lost device) or intentional (hacking, snooping). It occurs when data is exposed in an unsecured way, or when someone accesses or shares it beyond authorized purposes, leading to potential identity theft or harm.
 

What is considered highly sensitive information?

Highly Sensitive data (HSD) currently include personal information that can lead to identity theft. HSD also includes health information that reveals an individual's health condition and/or medical history.

What is data masking?

Data masking is the process of hiding data by modifying its original letters and numbers. Due to regulatory and privacy requirements, organizations must protect the sensitive data they collect about their customers and operations.

What is not considered sensitive personal information?

Personal information is any information that can be used to identify a named individual. Some types of personal information are relatively innocuous, such as a person's name or social media username, but other categories of personal information are more "sensitive" and require special protection.

What are examples of direct information that can be disclosed without consent?

Schools can designate certain information as “directory information,” which can be disclosed without consent. This typically includes a student's name, address, telephone number, email, date and place of birth, major, dates of attendance, and degrees and awards received.

Can you sue someone for revealing private information?

The publicizing of private details without consent could cause significant harm. You have a right to privacy for certain information about yourself. That also means you can sue a person who makes that information public. The tort of “public disclosure of private facts” is a state law claim of invasion of privacy.

What are the five confidentiality rules?

Five core confidentiality rules involve getting consent, limiting access to necessary personnel, using secure methods (like encryption), understanding legal requirements, and having clear policies for handling sensitive data, ensuring it's only shared when vital for care or legally mandated, not just because you can. These principles focus on protecting private information by controlling its collection, storage, use, and sharing.
 

What are the 5 C's of confidentiality?

Learn about the 5 C's of confidentiality in therapy and when confidentiality can be breached. Communicate, consent, court order, communication of threat, and continued treatment are key factors to consider.

What are the 7 principles of confidentiality?

The principles are: Lawfulness, Fairness, and Transparency; Purpose Limitation; Data Minimisation; Accuracy; Storage Limitations; Integrity and Confidentiality; and Accountability.

What are the three limitations of confidentiality?

The three most common situations that are considered limitations of confidentiality in counseling include immediate danger to self, duty to warn, and suspected abuse or neglect of a child or elder.

Which type of data should you avoid sharing?

Personal documents

Your ID card, employment contracts, or banking information are clear targets for cybercriminals. With this data, they can commit identity theft or financial fraud. Protect this information and avoid uploading it to the cloud without encryption.

Is it illegal to share personal information?

Sharing someone's personal information isn't always illegal, but it can become unlawful if it involves "doxing" (revealing private info to cause harm), sharing intimate images without consent, violating specific laws like HIPAA or FERPA (for health/student data), or results in defamation, harassment, or fraud, with penalties depending on the specific harm and jurisdiction. It's a complex area where public vs. private facts, intent, and context (like employment or health) matter significantly. 

What personal information is confidential?

Sensitive personal information includes:

Social security or passport number, driver's license, or state ID. Financial account credentials. A consumer's precise geolocation. Racial or ethnic origin, citizen or immigration status, religious or philosophical beliefs, or union membership.

What is the biggest HIPAA violation?

The most significant HIPAA violation fines

• Cyberattack and massive PHI exposure: Anthem's $16M settlement. ...
• Phishing attack led to $6.85M fine for Premera Blue Cross. ...
• Poor risk assessments cost Excellus Health Plan $5.1M. ...
• Repeated privacy failures resulted in a $2.15M penalty for Jackson Health.

What information can be shared without violating HIPAA?

You can share Protected Health Information (PHI) without violating HIPAA for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations (TPO), to fulfill public health or legal requirements, for disaster relief, or to prevent serious threats, using the minimum necessary amount; otherwise, you need patient authorization, but de-identified data (without identifiers like name, SSN, etc.) can be shared freely. 

What are the 5 main HIPAA rules?

The five core HIPAA rules are the Privacy Rule, Security Rule, Breach Notification Rule, Transactions Rule, and the Enforcement Rule, establishing standards for protecting patient health information (PHI). They govern how PHI can be used, shared, secured (especially electronic PHI), and mandate breach reporting, standardized transactions, unique identifiers for entities, and penalties for non-compliance to promote trust in healthcare.