Is disclosure allowed if a client provides explicit written consent for disclosure?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only with a court order
• D. Only with DSPS approval

Answer: (A)

Explicit written consent gives a lawful basis to disclose information to a specified recipient for the purposes stated. The consent must be in writing, signed, and spell out who will receive the information, what information will be disclosed, and for how long. When such consent exists, you may share only the information covered by it and only with the designated recipient, and you should document the disclosure and keep a copy of the consent. The client can revoke consent in writing at any time, and revocation applies to future disclosures (it doesn’t undo disclosures already made). While there are other pathways to disclose, such as a court order or regulatory requirement, they aren’t needed when valid written consent is present. So, disclosure is allowed with explicit written consent.