Releasing patient information without proper authorization can result in which penalties?

• A. Civil and criminal penalties.
• B. Administrative sanctions.
• C. No penalties.
• D. Public reprimand.

Answer: (A)

Unauthorized release of patient information triggers formal penalties under privacy laws. The most applicable consequences are civil fines and, in cases of willful or reckless disclosure, criminal penalties. Civil penalties can be substantial and are determined by factors like the level of fault and whether the violation was intentional, potentially applying per incident or per year. Criminal penalties come into play when there is intentional misuse or disclosure of protected health information, and can include significant fines and jail time. Administrative sanctions within a hospital or licensing board can occur, but they are separate from the statutory civil or criminal penalties and do not replace them. Public reprimand is not the typical outcome for privacy breaches under these laws.