The result of sharing private thoughts with someone else in confidence is which concept?

• A. Privacy
• B. Confidentiality
• C. Privileged communication
• D. Security

Answer: (B)

Confidentiality is the obligation to keep information shared in confidence private and not disclose it without consent. When someone reveals private thoughts to you and expects that the details won’t be shared, confidentiality is the principle guiding how you handle that information. This protects trust and is a fundamental duty in health information management, ensuring sensitive data stays within the circle of care.

Privacy is related but broader—it refers to an individual’s right to control access to their personal information and to be free from unwarranted intrusion. Privileged communication is a special legal protection that some communications (like between a patient and a lawyer or certain professionals) receive in court, which may shield them from disclosure, but it’s a specific legal status not applicable to all confidential disclosures. Security refers to the practical safeguards—like access controls and encryption—that protect information from unauthorized access, rather than the interpersonal duty to keep information private.

So, the concept described by sharing private thoughts in confidence is confidentiality.