Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) A Practice Exam

What does breach of confidentiality refer to in a medical context?

1. Making a medical error

2. Failing to keep privileged medical information private

3. Providing false information to a patient

4. Failing to obtain informed consent

The correct answer is: Failing to keep privileged medical information private

Breach of confidentiality in a medical context specifically refers to the failure to keep privileged medical information private. This concept is crucial in healthcare as it encompasses the ethical and legal obligation of healthcare providers to protect patient information. Maintaining confidentiality ensures that patients can speak openly about their health without fear of their private information being disclosed to anyone who is not authorized to know. When healthcare professionals share personal health information without patient consent or outside the appropriate channels, it constitutes a breach of privacy rights. This breach not only damages the trust between patients and providers but also has legal repercussions under laws such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the United States, which mandates the protection of patient data. In contrast, making a medical error, providing false information to a patient, or failing to obtain informed consent, while significant issues in the healthcare setting, pertain to different ethical and legal concerns. These actions do not specifically address the violation of the principle designed to protect patient confidentiality and privacy.