patient confidentiality

**patient confidentiality**

Patient confidentiality refers to the ethical and legal duty of healthcare providers to protect patients’ private health information from unauthorized disclosure. This principle ensures that personal medical details are kept secure and shared only with individuals directly involved in the patient’s care, preserving trust and respecting patient privacy. In the context of healthcare and medical practices, maintaining patient confidentiality is essential for compliance with regulations such as HIPAA and for fostering open, honest communication between patients and providers.