What is the Origin of Unauthorized Health Data Disclosure?

This term is a fundamental concept in health law and data privacy, explicitly defined and regulated under the HIPAA Privacy Rule in the United States and similar statutes internationally. Its necessity arose with the digitization of health records, which increased the risk and scale of potential breaches. The term emphasizes the lack of proper authorization as the defining characteristic of the violation.

What is the Mechanism of Unauthorized Health Data Disclosure?

Disclosure typically occurs due to security failures, such as a successful cyberattack on a data server, or human error, like mistakenly sending an email containing PHI to the wrong recipient. For non-HIPAA entities, it can also occur through opaque terms of service that grant broad sharing rights without the user fully understanding the implications. The mechanism of prevention relies on strong encryption, access controls, and comprehensive employee training on data handling protocols.

Unauthorized Health Data Disclosure ∞ Area

Unauthorized Health Data Disclosure

Meaning

Unauthorized Health Data Disclosure is the specific security and privacy violation that occurs when an individual’s personal health information (PHI) is intentionally or unintentionally released, shared, or made accessible to a third party without the individual’s explicit consent or a legitimate legal basis. This can involve clinical data, genetic test results, or self-reported metrics from wellness apps. Such disclosure represents a significant breach of trust and can lead to consequences ranging from identity theft to discrimination in employment or insurance.