Which action best protects client privacy?

• A. Maintain confidentiality, discuss only with authorized personnel, and follow privacy laws
• B. Discuss with family without authorization
• C. Post on public board
• D. Discuss with family but not verify authorization

Answer: (A)

Protecting client privacy comes from keeping information confidential, sharing it only with people who are explicitly authorized to know it, and following privacy laws and agency policies. In practice, this means you discuss sensitive details only with staff or relatives who have a legitimate need to know, and you verify that authorization before sharing anything. This ensures the client’s personal and health information isn’t exposed to unnecessary or inappropriate people.

Discussing with a family member without authorization breaches confidentiality and can expose private details the client hasn’t agreed to share. Posting information on a public board makes it accessible to strangers, which is unsafe and inappropriate. Discussing with family but not checking authorization leaves room for sharing with someone who isn’t allowed to receive the information, or when consent has not been granted, which still violates privacy protections.