Which concept emphasizes disclosing only necessary information about a patient?

The concept that emphasizes disclosing only necessary information about a patient is known as the minimum necessary standards. This principle is crucial in the context of patient privacy and confidentiality, as established under regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the United States.

The minimum necessary standards dictate that healthcare providers and related entities should only access and share the least amount of patient information that is necessary to accomplish a specific purpose—be it providing treatment, conducting payment processes, or performing healthcare operations. This helps to protect the patient's privacy and reduces the risk of unnecessary breaches of confidential information.

Informed consent is a significant concept focusing on ensuring that patients are fully aware of and agree to the treatments or procedures that will be performed. While this involves sharing specific information, it does not inherently restrict the amount of information shared to what is strictly necessary.

Patient autonomy emphasizes the right of patients to make their own healthcare decisions, which includes being informed about their conditions and treatments. Although respecting patient autonomy is essential, it does not specifically address the limitation of information sharing in terms of necessity.

Ethical obligation refers to the general duties healthcare professionals have to act in a manner that is considered morally right, which can include maintaining confidentiality and privacy. However, this