Release of Medical Information to Pharmaceutical Companies – Cal. Civ. Code § 56.102

Disclosure of medical information by pharmaceutical company; authorizations, releases, consents, or waivers; exceptions

A pharmaceutical company cannot require a patient, as a condition to giving his or her medications, to sign an authorization, release or waiver that allows the disclosure of medical information that would not otherwise be permitted to be disclosed.  However, a pharmaceutical company may require an individual to sign an authorization or release to disclose medical information related to the patient’s enrollment in an assistance or drug benefit program, enrollment of the patient in a clinical research project, prioritization of the distribution of the drug if it is in limited supply in the US, or in response to a patient inquiry.  A pharmaceutical company may not disclose medical information without first obtaining valid authorization from the patient.