Which statement about confidentiality under Part 2 is true?

Which statement about confidentiality under Part 2 is true?

• A. A medical emergency may permit disclosure to medical personnel.
• B. Any disclosure is prohibited even with consent.
• C. Researchers may never access data.
• D. All information can be disclosed to the patient's employer with consent.

Answer: (A)

Medical emergency situations are one of the recognized exceptions to the strict confidentiality rules of Part 2. When a patient is in a medical emergency, information from substance use treatment records can be disclosed to medical personnel who are involved in treating the patient, so they have what they need to provide appropriate care. This exception exists precisely to prevent delays or gaps in urgent treatment. The other statements overstate or misrepresent Part 2 protections. Disclosures without consent are not allowed in ordinary circumstances, and researchers do not access data only if consent is never given; with proper safeguards and either patient consent or approved research protocols, data can be used for research. Disclosures to an employer aren’t simply granted with generic consent; Part 2 requires careful, limited disclosures and specific authorization, not a blanket permission to share all information.

Medical emergency situations are one of the recognized exceptions to the strict confidentiality rules of Part 2. When a patient is in a medical emergency, information from substance use treatment records can be disclosed to medical personnel who are involved in treating the patient, so they have what they need to provide appropriate care. This exception exists precisely to prevent delays or gaps in urgent treatment.

The other statements overstate or misrepresent Part 2 protections. Disclosures without consent are not allowed in ordinary circumstances, and researchers do not access data only if consent is never given; with proper safeguards and either patient consent or approved research protocols, data can be used for research. Disclosures to an employer aren’t simply granted with generic consent; Part 2 requires careful, limited disclosures and specific authorization, not a blanket permission to share all information.