Article Sections

Introduction

Privacy is patients' right to control how their protected health information (PHI) is accessed or disclosed.  Confidentiality refers to the physician's ethical duty to keep PHI private unless the patient authorizes its release.  Maintaining confidentiality upholds patient autonomy and promotes a trusting physician-patient relationship wherein patients feel comfortable sharing their medical concerns.  Respecting patient privacy and confidentiality is mandated by federal law according to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).  However, breaking confidentiality is permitted, or required, in certain circumstances.

Protected health information

Protected health information (PHI) is information that can identify the patient, including information about the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions, services provided, and payments made for services.  Medical personnel are ethically and legally obligated to keep PHI confidential, upholding the ethical principle of nonmaleficence because harm may occur to patients when PHI is disclosed to unauthorized persons or the public.

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