What rights to privacy do people with mental illness have?

People with mental illness have certain legal rights to privacy in California. These rights are protected by the Mental Health Parity Act, which provides the same privacy protection that applies to physical health records. Under the act, mental health records are confidential and can only be released with a patient’s written consent. Health care providers cannot disclose a patient’s mental health information without their consent. Exceptions to this rule include situations where the disclosure is necessary for treatment or criminal investigation purposes. Patients also have the right to access and review their mental health records. They can request copies of their records and choose to provide copies of the records to other people or organizations. In addition, patients have the right to refuse to provide mental health information to their healthcare provider and the right to request amendments to their records if they feel that the information is inaccurate or incomplete. Finally, patients also have the right to report any violations of their rights to the California Department of Mental Health. This department is responsible for ensuring that mental health services are provided in compliance with the laws and regulations set forth in the Mental Health Parity Act.

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