Define "patient confidentiality."

Patient confidentiality refers to the obligation to protect a patient's personal health information. This principle is foundational in healthcare and ensures that any medical records or sensitive information about a patient’s health status, treatments, or medical history is kept private and secure.

Health care professionals are bound by ethical and legal standards to maintain confidentiality, which fosters trust between patients and healthcare providers. This trust is crucial for effective treatment, as patients are more likely to share sensitive information if they believe it will be kept confidential.

The other options do not accurately define patient confidentiality. Access to medical treatment, sharing health records without consent, or accessing financial records all involve different aspects of healthcare and privacy but do not directly relate to the fundamental concept of maintaining a patient's confidentiality regarding their health information.