What does confidentiality in healthcare require?

Confidentiality in healthcare is a fundamental principle that ensures patient information is kept secure and private, protecting it from unauthorized access. This is particularly important because patients must feel safe sharing sensitive information with healthcare providers to receive appropriate care. Protecting patient information from unauthorized individuals encompasses various practices, such as secure storage of medical records, careful handling of patient conversations, and ensuring that digital systems are secured against breaches.

In contrast, discussing patient information with colleagues without a legitimate need is generally considered a breach of confidentiality, as is sharing information for research purposes without patient consent. Additionally, charting patient information in public databases violates confidentiality principles, as it could expose sensitive information to anyone without appropriate authorization. Thus, the focus on protecting patient information from unauthorized access emphasizes the ethical and legal obligations healthcare providers have to maintain patient confidentiality.