Are there laws in New York State that protect the confidentiality of people with HIV and AIDS?
Yes. The HIV Confidentiality Law (Public Health Law, Article 27-F) was created in 1988 in New York State. Agencies and individuals who provide health or social services as defined by the law, or who receive HIV-related information through a signed release, must protect the confidentiality of that information. This law does allow for disclosure of HIV-related information between members of a health care team, to emergency workers, or to social service agencies for the care of the patient. The law also allows for the release of HIV information by special court order to public health officials and to insurers who pay for care and treatment. People who feel that HIV-related information has been released without their consent can contact the New York State Department of health Confidentiality Hotline at 1-800-962-5065 to request a “breach of confidentiality” form. Penalties for unauthorized disclosure of confidential HIV-related information by health care workers or social service workers i
