CONSENT FORM
The Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has the authority to collect and receive material and information about an individual, including personnel and medical records, when they are relevant to its investigation.
To investigate a complaint, OCR may need to disclose the individual’s name and other identifying information about the individual to persons at the entity or agency under investigation or to other persons, agencies, or entities. In some circumstances, OCR may refer a complaint to another government agency, as warranted.
The Privacy Act of 1974 protects certain federal records that contain personally identifiable information and, with your consent, allows OCR to use an individual’s name or other personal information, if necessary, to investigate a complaint.
Consent is voluntary, and it is not always needed in order to investigate a complaint; however, failure to give consent is likely to impede the investigation of your complaint and may result in the closure of the case.
Additionally, OCR may disclose information, including medical records and other personal information, which it has gathered during the course of its investigation in order to comply with a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and may refer a complaint to another appropriate agency.
Under FOIA, OCR may be required to release information regarding the investigation of a complaint; however, we will make every effort, as permitted by law, to protect information that identifies individuals or that, if released, could constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.
OCR will use any applicable protections in that law to safeguard information which could identify an individual, or that, if released, could constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. OCR may be required to release some information regarding the investigation of a complaint under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Please read and review the documents entitled Notice to Complainants and Other Individuals Asked to Supply Information to the Office for Civil Rights and Protecting Personal Information in Complaint Investigations for further information regarding how OCR may obtain, use, and disclose your information while investigating your complaint.
In order to expedite the investigation of this complaint if it is accepted by OCR, please read, sign, and return one copy of this consent form to OCR with your complaint. Please make one copy for your records. - I understand that in the course of the investigation of this complaint it may become necessary for OCR to reveal my identity or identifying information about me to persons at the entity or agency under investigation or to other persons, agencies, or entities.
- I am also aware of the obligations of OCR to honor requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). I understand that it may be necessary for OCR to disclose information which it has gathered as part of its investigation of this complaint.
- In addition, I understand that I may be covered by the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) regulations which protect any individual from being intimidated, threatened, coerced, retaliated against, or discriminated against because the individual has made a complaint, testified, assisted, in any manner in any mediation, investigation, hearing, proceeding, or other part of HHS’s investigation, conciliation, or enforcement process.
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