How certain is it that the patient privacy release form will hold up in court? If Mayo is arguing that the patient cannot make their own medical decisions, doesn't it inherently undermine their own argument to recognize the privacy release form as a legitimate decision made by the patient?
From the article, the hospital couldn't decide if the patient was competent. They claimed she wasn't when it suited their guardianship case, and claimed she was when they "discharged" her.
No one else has claimed she's incompetent. Other mmedical professionals have said she was and is. When patient signed the release, they were free to discuss the details of the case. Their refusal to do so is telling.
Since the hospital legally can present their side of the story and evidence to support it and have chosen not to, it is reasonable to accept the patient's account as accurate.