All individuals have the right to privacy regarding their health information. As health care professionals, you are responsible for protecting all health information in your possession, sharing it only with those who are authorized to receive it. Patients have the right to decide who, when, and where information about their healthcare should be shared.
Private information is shared with health care professionals, assuming a sense of trust that the information will not be shared in an inappropriate or illegal manner. The circumstances under which medical information can be shared are agreed upon in advance of medical services. The patient is made aware of these circumstances and agrees to the sharing of information with the disclosed parties.
