42 CFR §2.51
Verified against eCFR.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on eCFR.gov ↗
- (a)General rule. Under the procedures required by paragraph (c) of this section, patient identifying information may be disclosed to medical personnel to the extent necessary to:
- (1)Meet a bona fide medical emergency in which the patient's prior written consent cannot be obtained; or
- (2)Meet a bona fide medical emergency in which a part 2 program is closed and unable to provide services or obtain the prior written consent of the patient, during a temporary state of emergency declared by a state or federal authority as the result of a natural or major disaster, until such time that the part 2 program resumes operations.
- (b)Special rule. Patient identifying information may be disclosed to medical personnel of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) who assert a reason to believe that the health of any individual may be threatened by an error in the manufacture, labeling, or sale of a product under FDA jurisdiction, and that the information will be used for the exclusive purpose of notifying patients or their physicians of potential dangers.
- (c)Procedures. Immediately following disclosure, the part 2 program shall document, in writing, the disclosure in the patient's records, including: