Doctor-Patient Confidentiality Laws in Florida
Fort Lauderdale Medical Malpractice Lawyers Working for You
Every licensed medical professional is obligated by law to maintain a strict
doctor-patient relationship. The privacy and confidentiality of this relationship
entails strict regulations regarding information that can and cannot be
shared with third parties. Doctors and healthcare providers throughout
the United States are obligated to keep patient information private and
must refrain from disclosing any patient information to another party
without first receiving written consent from the patient.
A medical professional or facility that breaches this duty and discloses
confidential patient information of any sort may be held liable for damages.
These damages can include injury, embarrassment and emotional upset. If
your physician released your medical records to a third party without
your designated authorization,
complete a case evaluation form to speak with an injury attorney at Malove Henratty, P.A. about your legal options.
How to Determine If Your Medical Records Were Released Legally
A number of exceptions to the doctor-patient confidentiality law exist,
by which medical professionals are permitted to release patient records
without consent (and without being held liable for doing so). Common situations
in which a healthcare provider is allowed to disclose your personal information
without your consent include:
- Physician has reason to suspect child abuse, gunshot wounds, and other
forms of physical harm
- Patient waived the right to confidentiality when the claim for medical
coverage was first submitted
- Physician is required to report certain patient information to the appropriate
authorities, i.e., communicable viruses or diseases
Patients must also be aware that if they sue any medical professional for
malpractice, their records and personal medical information will be automatically
released and used in connection with the litigation at hand.
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We are easily accessible to residents throughout South Florida, including
Broward County, Palm Beach County, and Miami-Dade County and the state.
Our contingency fee policy means our clients pay
no upfront fees and will never be subjected to hidden expenses. In fact, we
only charge for our legal services if we are successful in securing a favorable
result on your behalf. If, for some reason, we don’t win, there
is no fee!
Contact us today to get started. Your first consultation is free!