When a patient revokes authorization for release of information after it has been released, the facility is:

When a patient revokes authorization for release of information after it has been released, the facility is protected by the Privacy Act. This is because the provisions of the Privacy Act and related regulations establish that once a patient provides consent for information release, the facility can act on that authorization until it is formally revoked.

If a patient revokes their authorization, it generally does not retroactively affect disclosures that were made in compliance with the authorization before revocation. The Privacy Act contains specific guidelines about handling patient information and offers protections to the providers as long as they follow those guidelines. This means that the facility has acted within legal bounds in releasing the information while the authorization was valid.

The other options do not accurately reflect the legal framework concerning patient authorization. Prosecution for invasion of privacy would imply unlawful actions on the part of the facility, which is not the case when proper authorizations are in place. Similarly, being subject to civil action would suggest that the facility acted improperly or without valid authorization beforehand, which is not consistent with legal practices surrounding patient information. Violating HIPAA security regulations also does not apply here, as long as the facility adhered to all rules during the authorization period.