Which describes when release of patient records without consent is allowed?

• A. Only when authorized by law
• B. With patient consent required in all cases
• C. Never allowed
• D. Always allowed

Answer: (A)

Releasing patient records without consent is permitted only when a law authorizes it. Privacy protections are strong in substance use treatment, but there are narrow, legally defined exceptions that allow disclosure without a patient’s written permission. Examples include when a court order or proper subpoena requires disclosure, when statutes mandate reporting to authorities (such as certain public health or protective services requirements), or when sharing is necessary to carry out treatment and meet regulatory or safety obligations under applicable confidentiality rules. Outside these authorized situations, consent is typically required.

So the best answer reflects that releases without consent are allowed only if the law explicitly permits them. The other options overstate or misstate the default: disclosures aren’t never allowed and aren’t always allowed, and they aren’t automatically required in all cases.