A client comes to the clinic and is found to have a sexually transmitted infection (STI). The client states to the nurse, "Promise you won't tell anyone about my condition."
According to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996, which action must the nurse take?
A) Honor the client's wishes.
B) Respect the client's privacy and confidentiality.
C) Communicate only necessary information.
D) Not disclose any information to anyone.
Answer: C
HIPAA includes standards that protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data as well as standards that define appropriate disclosures of identifiable health information and client rights protection. Nurses are entrusted with sensitive information, which at times must be revealed to other healthcare personnel in order to provide appropriate health care. In this case, the nurse may be required to report information to the state health department. Clients must be able to trust that their information is secure and will only be shared with appropriate entities. Nurses should not make promises to keep necessary information private.
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