Which patient information can be disclosed without consent?

The disclosure of patient information without consent is permissible under specific circumstances, particularly when it involves information required by government agencies that have statutory authority. This is significant because certain laws and regulations empower government agencies to request medical records for various purposes, including public health, safety, or legal investigations. In such cases, compliance with these requests is mandated by law, and the healthcare provider is permitted, or in some cases obligated, to disclose the relevant patient information.

For example, health departments may need to access patient information for epidemiological studies or to track the spread of infectious diseases, as authorized by public health laws. Similarly, law enforcement agencies may require information for criminal investigations or legal proceedings under specific statutes. In these situations, obtaining patient consent may not be feasible or necessary as the statutory authority overrides the need for consent.

The other options focus on various types of disclosures that typically require patient consent or are subject to stricter regulations under privacy laws such as HIPAA. This distinguishes the correct answer as it highlights the unique legal parameters that allow for disclosure without consent in the context of statutory authority.