Mary is a health information management (HIM) student on a clinical practice rotation in an acute care hospital in her own community. This week she is learning about the release of information process. At the breakfast table this morning, Mary’s mother asks her to find out what is wrong with Ruth, their next door neighbor. Ruth has been admitted to the hospital twice in the last three months, and her mother wants to know why. While processing the requests for release of information that afternoon, Mary comes across one from Ruth’s insurance company. Mary learns that Ruth was hospitalized due to physical abuse by her husband. Mary has been in trouble with her mother recently. She knows if she tells her mother this information, she will score “big points”, and she is very tempted to do that.

Later that same day, while responding to another request for information, Mary realizes that the medical record she is reviewing belongs to Ron, her best friend’s fiance. Mary learns that Ron has a drug abuse problem and was recently diagnosed with HIV disease. Mary will be the maid of honor at the wedding of Ron and Patricia two months from now, and she knows that Patricia does not know about Ron’s problems. Mary becomes really worried and wonders whether she should tell her best friend what she has learned, since Ron’s conditions could definitely affect Patricia’s health and the quality of her married life.

Review the scenario and answer the questions, providing well thought responses to each questions in the attached file.