Notification - Opportunity to Agree or Object

Unless you object, we may use or disclose your Protected Health Information to notify, or assist in notifying, a family member, personal representative, or other person responsible for your care, about your location, and about your general condition, or your death.
Communication with Family - Using our best judgment, and if you do not in advance request us not do so, we may disclose to a family member, other relative, close personal friend, or any other person you identify, health information relevant to that person's involvement in your care or in payment for such care or in an emergency.

Public Health Activities

Controlling Disease
As required by law, we may disclose your Protected Health Information to public health or legal authorities charged with preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability.

Child Abuse and Neglect
We may disclose Protected Health Information to public authorities as allowed by law to report child abuse or neglect.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
We may disclose to the FDA your Protected Health Information relating to adverse events with respect to food, supplements, products and product defects, or post-marketing surveillance information to enable product recalls, repairs, or replacements.

Victims of Abuse, Neglect, or Domestic Violence
We can disclose Protected Health Information to governmental authorities to the extent the disclosure is authorized by statute or regulation and in the exercise of professional judgment the doctor believes the disclosure is necessary to prevent serious harm to the individual or other potential victim.

Oversight Agencies
Federal law allows us to release your Protected Health Information to appropriate health oversight agencies or for health oversight activities to include audits, civil, administrative or criminal investigations:  inspections, licensures or disciplinary actions, and for similar reasons related to administration of healthcare.

Judicial/Administrative Proceedings
We may disclose your Protected Health Information in the course of any judicial or administrative proceeding as allowed or required by law, with your consent, or as directed by a proper court order or administrative tribunal, provided that only the Protected Health Information released is expressly authorized by such order, or in response to a subpoena, discovery request or other lawful process.

Law Enforcement
We may disclose your Protected Health Information for law enforcement purposes as required by law, such as when required by court order, including laws that require reporting of certain types of wounds or other physical injury.

Coroners, Medical Examiners and Funeral Directors
We may disclose your Protected Health Information to funeral directors or coroners consistent with applicable law to allow them to carry out their duties.

Organ Procurement Organizations
Consistent with applicable law, we may disclose your Protected Health Information to organ procurement organizations or other entities engaged in the procurement, banking, or transplantation of organs, eyes, or tissue for the purpose of donation and transplant.

Research
We may disclose information to researchers when their research has been approved by an institutional review board that has reviewed the research proposal and established protocols to ensure the privacy of your Protected Health Information.

Threat to Health and Safety
To avert a serious threat to health or safety, we may disclose your Protected Health Information consistent with applicable law to prevent or lessen a serious, imminent threat to the health or safety of a person or the public.

For Specialized Governmental Functions
We may disclose your Protected Health Information for specialized government functions as authorized by law such as to Armed Forces personnel, for national security purposes, or to public assistance program personnel.