According to HHS, when may health professionals disclose patient information to mitigate a risk of harm?

Health professionals may disclose patient information to mitigate a risk of harm when the patient poses a threat to themselves or others. This principle is grounded in the ethical and legal responsibilities of healthcare providers to ensure safety and protect individuals from harm. Under certain regulations, including mandated reporting laws, professionals are allowed to breach confidentiality when there is a credible threat that requires intervention for the safety of the individual or others.

In such cases, the priority is preventing serious harm, which may involve notifying appropriate authorities or support systems. This action respects the overarching ethical duty to promote well-being and safeguard at-risk individuals, even if it requires disclosing sensitive information without patient consent.

The other options do not meet the criteria for disclosure aimed at mitigating risk of harm and instead focus on situations where confidentiality would typically be maintained or where disclosure lacks immediate justification related to safety concerns.