Authorisation for Release of Personal Information to Third Parties

MANDATORY

A release of personal information form helps you communicate to clients / patients your commitment to confidentiality as well as the limitations of that confidentiality. Protecting patient confidentiality is required by legislation and ethical rules and can make your clients / patients feel safe, which leads to better therapeutic outcomes – see POPIA, section 13 of the National Health Act, paragraph 8.2 of the HPCSA Booklet 5: Confidentiality – Protecting and providing information and others.

The release of information form is filled out by the client / patient – unless they are a minor. In that case, a parent or guardian will fill out the release of information form, and it will be signed by both the parent/guardian and the minor.

Beyond the initial registration process, there are a few different scenarios in which a release of information form may apply.

Accessing health records – Under the circumstance that a client needs to update who can access their mental health records, the client will need to fill out a new release of information form or authorisation form. This can include adding, removing, or changing the list of people who have access to confidential records.