LCSW California – Law And Ethics Practice Test

Disclosures without client consent are limited to specific situations defined by federal rules. The default is that a clinician should obtain the client’s authorization before sharing protected information, but federal confidentiality laws carve out allowed exceptions. These exceptions include disclosures for treatment, payment, and health care operations, as well as disclosures required by law (such as court orders, public health reporting, or mandated reporting). Outside these permitted circumstances, authorization is usually still required. So, the statement that disclosures are allowed only with patient consent or as permitted by law under exceptions captures the federal framework: you generally need consent, but there are narrow, legally defined situations where you may disclose without it. The other options imply unrestricted or never-allowed disclosures, which do not align with federal confidentiality rules.