Which ethical concept is primarily concerned with protecting patient privacy and keeping information confidential?

• A. Confidentiality
• B. Autonomy
• C. Justice
• D. Beneficence

Answer: (A)

Confidentiality is the ethical duty to protect a patient’s private information and keep it within the circle of those involved in care. In nursing, what a patient shares—symptoms, diagnoses, medical history, personal details—should be shared only with care team members who need to know and with the patient’s consent. Maintaining confidentiality builds trust, encourages open disclosure, and supports accurate assessment and safe, effective care. Breaches can harm the patient relationship and may have legal or professional consequences, so disclosure is limited to appropriate circumstances, such as patient consent, legal reporting requirements, or to prevent harm. The other concepts address different responsibilities: autonomy relates to the patient’s right to make decisions, justice to fair and equitable treatment, and beneficence to promoting good and preventing harm. But when the focus is on protecting privacy and keeping information confidential, confidentiality is the best fit.