A dental receptionist receives a call from a husband asking for information about his wife's procedure. Which legislation governs the refusal to disclose?

• A. Health and Safety Act
• B. Equality Act
• C. Data Protection Act 1998
• D. Freedom of Information Act

Answer: (C)

This question tests patient confidentiality and how personal health information can be shared. The Data Protection Act 1998 controls how personal data, including medical details, are stored, used, and disclosed. In practice, a dental receptionist must not reveal a patient’s treatment information to someone else, such as a spouse, without the patient’s explicit consent or a lawful exception. That’s why this legislation is the relevant guide for refusal to disclose.

The other acts don’t apply to this situation in the same way. The Health and Safety Act deals with safety in the workplace, not patient privacy. The Equality Act protects against discrimination but doesn’t govern sharing medical information. The Freedom of Information Act concerns requests for information held by public authorities and isn’t the rule that governs private patient data in a dental practice.