A physician and surgeon or dentist or their agents by their direction may take skeletal X-rays of the child with the consent of the child's parents or guardian for the purposes of diagnosing the case as one of possible child abuse or neglect and to determine the extent of the abuse or neglect. Neither psychotherapist-patient nor physician-patient privilege applies to the information reported in any court proceeding or administrative hearing.
A single authorization must be given to the parent or guardian of the seriously emotionally disturbed and special needs child entering the program to sign. The authorization must be in writing, and gives permission to release medical, mental health, social services, and education records across multiple providers.
(2) Integrated programs must obtain an individual's informed authorization or the authorization of the parent/guardian/custodian of a minor before obtaining an individual's medical information, including mental health and drug treatment records. (3) Medical information shall not be disclosed to unauthorized persons (4) nor shall it be disclosed for any purpose that is not authorized in the authorization.
Notwithstanding the general confidentiality protections of Welf. & Inst. Code 5328, if the recipient of services is a minor, ward, or conservatee, the patient’s information and records can be disclosed to persons designated in writing by his or her parent, guardian, guardian ad litem, or conservator.
Notwithstanding the general confidentiality protections of Welf. & Inst. Code 5328, information and records shall be disclosed to county patients' rights advocates who have been given knowing voluntary authorization by a client or a guardian ad litem. The client or guardian ad litem, whoever entered into the agreement, may revoke the authorization at any time, either in writing or by oral declaration to an approved advocate.
