23. Right to confidentiality
A person with mental illness shall have the right to confidentiality in respect of his mental health, mental healthcare, treatment and physical healthcare.
All health professionals providing care or treatment to a person with mental illness shall have a duty to keep all such information confidential which has been obtained during care or treatment with the following exceptions, namely:—
release of information to the nominated representative to enable him to fulfil his duties under this Act;
release of information to other mental health professionals and other health professionals to enable them to provide care and treatment to the person with mental illness;
release of information if it is necessary to protect any other person from harm or violence;
only such information that is necessary to protect against the harm identified shall be released;
release only such information as is necessary to prevent threat to life;
release of information upon an order by concerned Board or the Central Authority or High Court or Supreme Court or any other statutory authority competent to do so; and
release of information in the interests of public safety and security.