Respecting a patient’s request for confidentiality about personal information primarily upholds which ethical principle?

• A. Autonomy
• B. Beneficence
• C. Non-Maleficence
• D. Justice

Answer: (A)

Respecting a patient’s request for confidentiality primarily upholds autonomy—the patient’s right to control personal information and to decide who may access it. By honoring that request, clinicians acknowledge the patient as an independent agent with the power to determine what is shared, which supports their ability to make informed decisions and maintains trust in the care relationship. While protecting confidentiality also aligns with beneficence and non-maleficence—helping the patient and preventing harm—the action is most directly connected to respecting the patient’s control over their own information. Justice, focusing on fairness and equal treatment, is not the primary driver in this scenario.