Hospitals have an ethical and legal obligation to keep medical information private and confidential.
These commonly include, but are not limited to, persons brought to the hospital by authorities, persons under arrest or held under police surveillance, and alleged stabbings, poisonings, shootings, automobile injuries, burns, assaults, bites and unusual industrial accidents. Cases reportable to public authorities, such as the health department, police, fire department or coroner, are generally of public record. Release of information on minors requires the consent of a parent or legal guardian. No identity or information that could identify the person is to be released for patients with AIDS or HIV-related illness, sexual assault or child abuse victims, psychiatric patients, or drug or alcohol abuse patients. After the patient is discharged, the hospital is no longer in a position to disclose information concerning that patient.