When a nurse protects the information in a patient’s medical record, which ethical responsibility is being fulfilled?

• A. Privacy
• B. Disclosure
• C. Confidentiality
• D. Absolute secrecy

Answer: (C)

Confidentiality is the ethical responsibility involved when a nurse protects information in a patient’s medical record. It means keeping personal health information private and sharing it only with people who need to know to provide safe, effective care or who are legally authorized to receive it. This trust-based duty underpins ethical nursing practice and professional standards, such as ensuring consent and safeguarding patient dignity. Privacy refers to the patient’s right to control access to their information, while disclosure means releasing information to others. Absolute secrecy would ignore necessary and lawful sharing for care, reporting, or safety, so confidentiality is the appropriate, practical obligation in this scenario.