Canadian Health Information Management Association Practice Exam

Confidentiality is the:

1. duty of the organization

2. responsibility of the person

3. right of the person

4. duty of the person

The correct answer is: duty of the organization

Confidentiality refers to the obligation of an organization to protect private information against unauthorized access and disclosure. This encompasses the responsibility of the organization to ensure that all relevant policies, procedures, and measures are in place to safeguard sensitive data, especially in a healthcare context where patient information is involved. Organizations must train their staff, implement technical security measures, and ensure compliance with laws and regulations surrounding privacy, such as the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) in Canada. While there are individual responsibilities regarding confidentiality — for instance, employees must adhere to the organization's privacy policies — the overarching duty lies with the organization itself. It is tasked with creating a culture of confidentiality, ensuring that all personnel understand the importance of safeguarding information and are equipped with the tools and knowledge to do so effectively. This collective duty ultimately protects individuals' rights to confidentiality within the healthcare system. In contrast, while confidentiality relates to the responsibility of the individual as well, it is primarily an organizational duty to manage and enforce policies that maintain the confidentiality of information.