South Carolina § 40-63-190 - Disclosure of client information.

§ 40-63-190. Disclosure of client information.

No licensee, or any of his or her employees or associates, shall disclose information which he or she may have acquired during the course of service, except:

(1) as mandated by Section 63-7-310, requiring certain professionals to report suspected child abuse and neglect, and Section 43-35-85, requiring certain professionals to report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult;

(2) to prevent a clear and immediate danger to a person or persons, in cases where the information is necessary to prevent the client from causing harm to himself or herself or to others;

(3) where the licensee is a defendant in a civil, criminal, or disciplinary action arising from the course of service to the client in which case confidences may be disclosed only in the course of that action;

(4) where the client is a party in a criminal or civil proceeding, and the client introduces his mental condition as an element of a claim or defense;

(5) where there is a waiver of confidentiality previously obtained in writing, such information may be disclosed in accordance with the terms of the waiver. Competent clients, or their personal representatives, may consent to the release of confidences. In circumstances where more than one person receives services conjointly, each client who is legally competent to execute a waiver must agree to the waiver referred to in this subsection. Without a waiver from each client legally competent to execute a waiver, no confidences may be disclosed under this subsection;

(6) where otherwise required by law or an order signed by a judge of a court of competent jurisdiction.

HISTORY: 2002 Act No. 189, SECTION 1.