Which concept refers to keeping patient information private unless consent is given or required by law?

• A. HIPAA
• B. Confidentiality
• C. Defamation
• D. False Imprisonment

Answer: (B)

Confidentiality means keeping patient information private and only sharing it with people who need to know to provide care, or when the patient has given explicit permission. It also involves sharing information only as required by law, such as in certain reporting situations or when a court requires it. This practice is essential for trust and ethical care, and laws like HIPAA support these protections by setting rules for how health information can be used and shared. Defamation involves false statements that harm someone’s reputation, and false imprisonment is restraining someone’s freedom without lawful authority, neither of which relate to protecting a patient’s private health information.