Patient Care Technician (PCT) AAH Practice Exam

A breach of confidentiality applies to information gained between which parties?

1. The healthcare professional and the patient

2. The doctor and the insurance company

3. The patient and their family

4. The healthcare team members themselves

The correct answer is: The healthcare professional and the patient

The correct answer pertains to the relationship between the healthcare professional and the patient, which is foundational in healthcare ethics and law. Confidentiality is a core principle in medical practice, emphasizing the need for trust in the patient-provider relationship. When a patient discloses sensitive information, they have a reasonable expectation that it will remain private. A breach of this confidentiality would occur if a healthcare professional disclosed that information without consent, except in certain legally mandated cases. The context of the other scenarios reveals why they do not fit the definition of a breach of confidentiality in the same way. While doctors might share information with insurance companies for billing purposes, this exchange is typically governed by strict regulations, and the patient often agrees to this as part of treatment. Similarly, discussions between patients and their family members can involve private information, but patients usually have the right to decide what to share with their families. Lastly, communications among healthcare team members can also be essential for patient care and often fall under professional communication protocols, with the understanding that all team members maintain patient confidentiality. In those situations, appropriate information sharing is generally part of the coordinated care process, as long as it adheres to confidentiality agreements and legal regulations.