Person who can legally sign a release of medical records

• A. Hospital administrator
• B. Nurse
• C. Physician
• D. Patient or guardian

Answer: (D)

Releasing medical records requires authorization from the person the records belong to or their legally authorized representative. The individual themselves signs the release to give consent for disclosure, or a parent/guardian (or someone with legal authority like a healthcare power of attorney or court-appointed guardian) signs on their behalf. Hospital staff such as administrators, nurses, or physicians don’t have automatic authority to sign a records release for someone else unless they are the designated representative with that legal authority. This setup protects patient privacy by ensuring a valid, voluntary authorization is in place before records are shared.