Managers of health information have a professional stake in understanding the legal requirements designed to safeguard health care information. This new text provides learners with an understanding of the legal principles that govern patient information. Actual cases related to health care underscore the relationship between the law and health information. This comprehensive text covers all legal aspects of the Health Information Management field. The first chapters introduce the American legal system, legal procedures and principles of liability. Subsequent chapters build on this information by presenting information on patient record requirements, access to health information, confidentiality, computerized records, and other areas. (HIM, legal)