Which term best describes the protection of patient information in healthcare?

• A. Confidentiality
• B. Data Security
• C. Consent
• D. Access Rights

Answer: (A)

Confidentiality is the protection of patient information, meaning details about a patient are kept private and only shared with people who have a legitimate need to know, and typically with the patient’s consent. This is a fundamental ethical and legal obligation in healthcare, helping to preserve trust between patients and providers. Data security supports confidentiality by providing technical safeguards like encryption and secure systems to prevent unauthorized access, but it describes how information is protected rather than the protection concept itself. Consent relates to giving permission to share information, which enables disclosure but isn’t the act of keeping information private. Access rights determine who can view information within a system, a part of implementing confidentiality, but not the protection of information as a concept. So the best term for the protection of patient information is confidentiality.