Under which condition can a facility legally disclose patient records?

A facility can legally disclose patient records under the condition that it has received patient consent. This aligns with various privacy laws and regulations, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which prioritize the rights of individuals to control access to their personal health information. When a patient provides consent, they are giving explicit permission for the facility to share their records, ensuring that the disclosure is in line with their wishes and maintains their privacy rights.

In other scenarios, such as disclosing information at the facility's discretion or without patient consent for research purposes, there are strict legal limitations and ethical considerations that govern such actions. Patient records should not be shared merely based on a facility's internal policies or desires without proper authorization, as this could violate patient trust and legal regulations. Additionally, requests from third parties typically require patient consent or a legally recognized reason, like a subpoena, to be valid. Thus, patient consent remains a fundamental requirement for lawful disclosure of medical records.