Confidentiality

A student’s medical record at Health Services is confidential. Information in the medical record is only released with the student’s request and written or documented verbal permission, or by judicial subpoena. The one exception to this is in a life-threatening situation when it may be necessary to release information on a need-to-know basis.

According to federal privacy laws, parents/guardians do not have the right to know if or why their student has visited Health Services. Students 18 years and older can sign a Release of Information form to allow Health Services staff to discuss care related to the specific issue or condition specified in the release of information.  Written permission (or at times verbal permission) needs to be given each time a student wants Health Services to discuss care with their parents or legal guardians.

Long-term,  general Release of Information forms are not accepted.

If a student is under 18 years old, Health Services staff will request the student’s permission before discussing care with parents/guardians as well.  In New York State, the provider is allowed to withhold information from a parent/guardian if: 

• the provider thinks that it would negatively affect the student’s treatment, the relationship between the student and provider, or the relationship between the student and parent/guardian 
• a student is over the age of 12 and objects to the disclosure 
• the provider reasonably believes that the student is subject to abuse or neglect by a parent/guardian, disclosure could put the student in danger, and/or if they believe it is not in the student’s best interest to involve a parent/guardian 

For more information visit the New York Civil Liberties Union website specifically for teens.