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UHS issues statement on patient-privacy policy

By Public Affairs

On March 15, UC Berkeley’s University Health Services issued the following statement clarifying the policies and laws it follows with regard to protection of patient information:

Patient privacy is a top priority at University Health Services, with strict privacy practices in place to protect patients. Full medical records may only be released with written consent from patients or a subpoena, except where specified by law. In cases where patients are suspected to have suffered physical injury as a result of assault or abusive conduct, California law (penal code 11160) requires additional reporting, including the name of the injured person and the person’s injuries.

In the case of Nov. 9 protest activity, the reporting law requires University Health Services and any other medical facility that provided treatment to injured patients to report such to their local law enforcement jurisdiction. Medical records are not released as part of this mandatory reporting requirement, only the reporting form required by law.