What is the primary obligation of confidentiality in clinical practice?

• A. Disclose information to employers
• B. Protect information from unauthorized disclosure
• C. Share information with family
• D. Avoid documentation

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is that confidentiality means safeguarding patient information and controlling who can see it. The primary obligation is to protect information from unauthorized disclosure, because trust and privacy are essential to effective care. In practice, this means keeping records secure, sharing details only with people involved in the patient’s care or with explicit patient consent, and following laws and professional ethics that govern how information can be released.

Disclosing information to an employer without consent is not appropriate for confidentiality, as it would reveal private data the patient has not agreed to share. Sharing with family similarly requires patient consent or a clear, legally justified exception. Avoiding documentation would undermine care and accountability, whereas proper, secure documentation supports both privacy and safety.