(a) Authorized facilities. Medical information may be released to Federal
hospitals, state hospitals, and penal institutions if the person is a patient or inmate
there.
(b) Release conditions. These facilities may receive medical information
and/or records when the facility is engaged in providing medical care or treatment to
the patient. The facility may not further release the information.
(4) Release to accredited research institutions. Qualified people may have
access to Army medical records and biostatistical information for research and study, with
the approval of The Surgeon General of the Army. However, no information on the
treatment, identity, prognosis, or diagnosis for drug and alcohol abuse patients will be
released except in accordance with AR 600-85. The patient's consent is not required
except for information which identifies or includes photographs of exterior portions of the
patient's body. The patient must give specific permission for publication of this
information. Medical records used for research will not be removed from the medical or
dental treatment facility.
(5) Other official requests. Other types of official requests include
Congressional inquiries from law enforcement agencies. Information may be released to
Congressional inquiries only with permission from the patient. Federal, state, local, or
forgein law enforcement agencies must submit written requests. These requests should be
reviewed by the staff judge advocate prior to release. Only information concerning the
violation of law may be released and only the pertinent portion of the record, i.e.,
information from the record which is directly related to the alleged crime.
(6) Claim collection. Copies of pertinent parts of a patient's records can be
furnished to the staff judge advocate or legal officer of the command in connection with the
Government's collection of a claim. If proper, the legal officer can release this information
to the tortfeasor's (person guilty of a civil wrong) insurer without the patient's consent.
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