What does confidentiality refer to in a medical setting?

Confidentiality in a medical setting is fundamentally about safeguarding a victim's right to privacy. This principle ensures that personal and sensitive information regarding a patient’s health, medical history, and treatment remains protected from unauthorized access or disclosure. By ensuring confidentiality, medical professionals build trust with their patients, encouraging them to share vital information that is essential for effective treatment. It is their ethical and legal obligation to maintain this confidentiality, reinforcing the importance of protecting patient information and only sharing it with those who have a legitimate need to know, such as the patient or designated healthcare personnel involved in their care.