229.25 Medical records to be confidential — exceptions.
1. a. The records maintained by a hospital or other facility relating to the examination, custody, care and treatment of any person in that hospital or facility pursuant to this chapter shall be confidential, except that the chief medical officer shall release appropriate information under any of the following circumstances:
(1) The information is requested by a licensed physician or mental health professional, attorney, or advocate who provides the chief medical officer with a written waiver signed by the person about whom the information is sought.
(2) The information is sought by a court order.
(3) The person who is hospitalized or that person’s guardian, if the person is a minor or is not legally competent to do so, signs an informed consent to release information. Each signed consent shall designate specifically the person or agency to whom the information is to be sent, and the information may be sent only to that person or agency.
b. Such records may be released by the chief medical officer when requested for the purpose of research into the causes, incidence, nature and treatment of mental illness, however information shall not be provided in a way that discloses patients’ names or which otherwise discloses any patient’s identity.
2. When the chief medical officer deems it to be in the best interest of the patient and the patient’s next of kin to do so, the chief medical officer may release appropriate information during a consultation which the hospital or facility shall arrange with the next of kin of a voluntary or involuntary patient, if requested by the patient’s next of kin.
[C77, 79, 81, §229.25; 82 Acts, ch 1135, §1]
89 Acts, ch 275, §7; 2009 Acts, ch 41, §263; 2017 Acts, ch 34, §18
Referred to in §228.6, 229.19
Structure Iowa Code
Chapter 229 - HOSPITALIZATION OF PERSONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS
Section 229.1A - Legislative intent.
Section 229.1B - Regional administrator.
Section 229.2 - Application for voluntary admission — authority to receive voluntary patients.
Section 229.2A - Dual filings.
Section 229.3 - Discharge of voluntary patients.
Section 229.4 - Right to release on application.
Section 229.5 - Departure without notice.
Section 229.5A - Preapplication screening assessment — program.
Section 229.6 - Application for order of involuntary hospitalization.
Section 229.6A - Hospitalization of minors — jurisdiction — due process.
Section 229.7 - Service of notice upon respondent.
Section 229.8 - Procedure after application is filed.
Section 229.9 - Respondent’s attorney informed.
Section 229.9A - Advocate informed.
Section 229.10 - Physicians’ or mental health professionals’ examination — report.
Section 229.11 - Judge may order immediate custody.
Section 229.12 - Hearing procedure.
Section 229.13 - Evaluation order — treatment — unauthorized departure or failure to appear.
Section 229.14 - Chief medical officer’s report.
Section 229.14A - Placement order — notice and hearing.
Section 229.14B - Escape from custody.
Section 229.15 - Periodic reports required.
Section 229.16 - Discharge and termination of proceeding.
Section 229.17 - Status of respondent during appeal.
Section 229.18 - Status of respondent if hospitalization is delayed.
Section 229.19 - Advocates — appointment — duties — employment and compensation.
Section 229.21 - Judicial hospitalization referee — appeals to district court.
Section 229.22 - Hospitalization — emergency procedure.
Section 229.23 - Rights and privileges of hospitalized persons.
Section 229.24 - Records of involuntary hospitalization proceeding to be confidential.
Section 229.25 - Medical records to be confidential — exceptions.
Section 229.26 - Exclusive procedure for involuntary hospitalization.
Section 229.28 - Hospitalization in certain federal facilities.
Section 229.29 - Transfer to certain federal facilities.
Section 229.30 - Orders of courts in other states.
Section 229.31 - Commission of inquiry.
Section 229.32 - Duty of commission.
Section 229.34 - Finding and order filed.
Section 229.35 - Compensation — payment.
Section 229.36 - Limitation on proceedings.
Section 229.37 - Habeas corpus.
Section 229.38 - Cruelty or official misconduct.
Section 229.39 - Status of persons hospitalized under former law.
Section 229.40 - Rules for proceedings.
Section 229.41 - Voluntary admission.
Section 229.42 - Costs paid by county.
Section 229.43 - Nonresident patients.
Section 229.45 - Provision of summary of procedures to applicant in involuntary commitment.