If a member of a law enforcement agency comes to you with a subpoena or court order for patient information what do you do?

• A. Refuse and contact your attorney
• B. Give it to them
• C. Wait for a court order to review the request
• D. Disclose only non-identifying information

Answer: (B)

When law enforcement presents a subpoena or court order, you respond to the document as a legal directive to disclose information. The appropriate action is to provide the information requested, after confirming the subpoena or order is valid, properly served, and within the scope allowed by law. This keeps you aligned with legal obligations while protecting patient privacy by releasing only what the order permits and documenting the disclosure. Refusing or delaying, or withholding information without a valid reason, would not satisfy the legal directive, and waiting for a separate court action isn’t necessary when a valid subpoena or order is already in place.