Which of the following is true regarding patient privacy?

Patients must be informed about their confidentiality rights because this is a fundamental principle of healthcare privacy and ethics. The right to confidentiality is integral to the patient-provider relationship, fostering trust, open communication, and effective treatment. Under laws such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), healthcare providers are required to educate patients about their rights regarding health information, including who can access their records and under what circumstances their information may be shared.

Informed consent is a crucial aspect of patient care; patients are entitled to understand how their data will be used and shared, which builds their trust in the healthcare system. This legal requirement to inform patients not only protects their privacy but also empowers them to take an active role in their healthcare decisions.

The other options undermine the principles of patient autonomy and confidentiality. For example, claiming that patients have no rights to control their health information contradicts established legal frameworks that grant patients specific rights over their personal data. The notion that healthcare providers can disclose any information without consent disregards the legal protections put in place to safeguard patient privacy, while stating that health records do not require protection measures overlooks the importance of maintaining confidentiality and secure data handling in healthcare settings.