What is the difference between patient confidentiality and privacy?

  Patient confidentiality and privacy are two important concepts that are often used interchangeably, but they actually have different meanings. Patient confidentiality is the obligation of healthcare providers to keep information about their patients secret. This information can include a patient's medical history, test results, diagnoses, and treatment plans. Healthcare providers are only allowed to share this information with other healthcare providers who are directly involved in the patient's care, or with other people who have the patient's consent. Patient privacy is a broader concept that refers to a patient's right to control how their personal information is used and shared. This includes information about their health, but it can also include other personal information, such as their address, phone number, and email address. Patients have the right to request that their healthcare providers keep their information confidential, and they also hav...