Florida Physical Therapy Jurisprudence Practice Exam 2026 - Free Physical Therapy Jurisprudence Practice Questions and Study Guide

The ability for certain individuals or entities to access a patient's medical records without written consent is governed by healthcare privacy laws, including HIPAA in the United States. In the context of an abuse investigation, representatives from the Department of Children and Families (or similar agencies) are granted specific authority to access medical records to fulfill their duty to protect children and investigate allegations of abuse or neglect. This access is considered necessary for safeguarding the welfare of vulnerable individuals and is outlined in legal statutes allowing for exceptions to the general rule requiring patient consent.

The other choices involve scenarios where access to medical records is either dependent on patient consent or is generally more restricted. The spouse of a patient typically would not have access to medical records without explicit written consent due to privacy laws protecting patient information. Similarly, research statisticians would need to de-identify any data used in their research, meaning they could not use the patient’s name without consent. Another physician might discuss or report on a patient's appointment, but access to medical records in that context also generally requires patient consent to comply with privacy regulations.