441—9.15 (17A,22) Person who may exercise rights of the subject.
	 9.15(1) Adults. When the subject is an adult, including an emancipated minor, the subject’s rights under this rule may also be exercised by the subject’s legal or personal representative, except as provided in subrule 9.15(3).
	 9.15(2) Minors. Within the limits of subrule 9.15(3), when the subject is an unemancipated minor, the subject’s rights under this rule shall be exercised only by the subject’s legal representative, except as follows:
	  a.   	 When the department otherwise deals with the minor as an adult, as in the case of minor parents under the family investment program.
	  b.   	 When otherwise specifically provided by law. However, minor subjects shall be granted access to their own records upon request, subject to the limits in rule 441—9.9(17A,22).
	 9.15(3) Exceptions.
	  a.   	 Scope of authority. Legal and personal representatives may act only within the scope of their authority. For protected health information, the designation must reflect the subject’s ability to make health care decisions and receive protected health information. For example, court-appointed conservators shall have access to and authority to release only the following information:
	 (1) 	 Name and address of subject.
	 (2) 	 Amounts of assistance or type of services received.
	 (3) 	 Information about the economic circumstances of the subject.
	  b.   	 Mental health information. Only an adult subject or a subject’s legal representative may consent to the disclosure of mental health information. Records of involuntary hospitalization shall be released only as provided in Iowa Code section 229.24. Medical records of persons hospitalized under Iowa Code chapter 229 shall be released only as provided in Iowa Code section 229.25.
	  c.   	 Substance abuse information. Only the subject may consent to the disclosure of substance abuse information, regardless of the subject’s age or condition.
	  d.   	 Failure to act in good faith. If the department has reason to believe that the legal or personal representative is not acting in good faith in the best interests of the subject, the department may refuse to release information on the authorization of the legal or personal representative.
	  e.   	 Abuse, neglect, and endangerment situations. Notwithstanding a state law or any other requirement of this chapter, the department, in the exercise of professional judgment, may elect not to treat a person as a subject’s personal representative if:
	 (1) 	 The department has reason to believe that the subject has been or may be subjected to domestic violence, abuse, or neglect by the person; or
	 (2) 	 The department has reason to believe that treating the person as a personal representative could endanger the subject.
	  f.   	 Protected health information. A parent, guardian, or other person acting in place of a parent who does not represent the minor for protected health information may still access protected health information about the minor if required by law.
	  g.   	 Deceased subjects. If, under applicable law, an executor, administrator, or other person has authority to act on behalf of a deceased subject or of the subject’s estate, the department shall treat that person as a personal representative.
	  h.   	 Other. If, under applicable law, the subject of a confidential record is precluded from having a copy of a record concerning the subject disclosed to a third party, the department shall not treat the third party as a personal representative.