Virginia Legal Information
Selected Virginia Laws Affecting Patient Confidentiality
SELECTED VIRGINIA LAWS AFFECTING PATIENT CONFIDENTIALITY
| I. Confidentiality Protections: | |||
| A. Prohibiting Disclosure of Information Without Patient’s Consent: | |||
| Statutory Law: Patient Health Records Privacy Statute . . § 32.1-127.1:03 Statutory Law: Unauthorized Computer Access is Illegal . . .§ 18.2-152.5 Regulatory Law: (See Licensing Board Standards; State Agency Regs) Case Law: Virginia Supreme Court in Fairfax Hospital v. Patricia Curtis |
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| B. Therapist-Patient Privilege (Protections in Civil Court Proceedings Only): | |||
| Board of Medicine Licensees and Clinical Psychologists.§ 8.01-399 Other Mental Health Professionals…§ 8.01-400.2 Judges Can Protect Health Records In Court Case.. § 32.1-127.1:03, (H-6) Confidentiality Protections in Court-Ordered Parent Education… § 20-103 |
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| C. Minors’ Access to Outpatient Tx Without Parental Consent … § 54.1-2969 | |||
| II. Confidentiality Limitations (Potential Disclosure w/o Pt. Consent): | |||
| A. Laws Requiring Provider To Disclose Information Without Patient Consent: | |||
| Duty to Protect Third Parties…§ 54.1-2400.1 | |||
| Reports Mandated by Statute or Regulation : | |||
| Abuse/Neglect of Aged or Incapacitated Adult…§ 63.2-1606 Abuse/Neglect of Child… § 63.2-1509 (defined in .§ 63.2-100) Practitioners in Therapy, if Public at Risk. ..§ 54.1-2400.7 Practitioner Misconduct: —Board of Medicine Licensees...§ 54.1-2909 ; § 54.1-2915 —Other Licensed or Certified Practitioners (See Board Reports) State Colleges Notify Parents of Depndnt Students at Risk…§ 23-9.2:3 |
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| Records/Information Legally Available to Others Without Patient Consent: | |||
| CASA Lay Volunteers…§ 9.1-156 CSB Evaluators for Involuntary Commitment of Minor...§ 16.1-342 CSB or Indep. Evaluator for Involuntary Commitment ..§ 37.2-804.2 DSS Investigation Following Report of Abuse/Neglect . .§ 63.2-1509 Licensing Board Investigations; Subpoena ...§ 54.1-2506 Parent Has Access to Treatment Records of Minor Child…§ 20-124.6 Magistrates, etc. for Commitment Hearing…§ 16.1-337 ; § 37.2-804.2 |
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| B. Exceptions to Therapist-Patient Privilege (Potential Subpoenas) | |||
| Civil Proceedings: Exceptions to Privilege: § 8.01-399, § 8.01-400.2 | |||
| Child Abuse/Neglect Cases…§ 63.2.1519; § 8.01-400.2 | |||
| Mental Condition at Issue in Court Case…§ 8.01-399; § 8.01-400.2 | |||
| “Judicial Discretion” Exception to Privilege...§ 8.01-399; § 8.01-400.2 | |||
| Guardian Ad Litem Access to Info in Court Case.§16.1-266 (G) | |||
| Subpoenaed Records Delivered to Clerk of Court…§ 32.1-127.1:03 Copies of Records Admissible as Evidence . . . § 8.01-413 |
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| Criminal Proceedings (No statutory therapist-patient privilege) | |||
| Licensing Board Subpoena of Records for Investigation.(e.g., § 54.1-2506) | |||
| C. Laws Allowing Others to Re-Disclose Information Without Patient Consent | |||
| Testimony by CASA Volunteer Who Obtained Tx Info/Records…§ 9.1-153 | |||
| Testimony by Evaluator in Involuntary Commitment ..§ 16.1-342 ; 37.2-804.2 | |||
NOTE: To be able to promise absolute confidentiality, a clinician would need to be prepared
to disobey all of the laws in II-A and II-B, above, and be prepared to accept the legal and financial consequences of that civil disobedience.
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*This information is not a substitute for knowing all the Regulations or Statutesrelated to the practice of your profession.
