At worst, others are avoiding care all together because of privacy concerns. In his 1999 State of the Union Message, President Clinton reminded the Congress and the American people that he will enact medical privacy protections this year if Congress does not act by August, 1999. The coalition is committed to the development and enactment of public policies and private standards that guarantee the confidentiality of personal health information and promote both access to high quality care and the continued viability of medical research. Privacy and confidentiality are key to the trusting relationship between nurses and patients. Privacy refers to the right to be left alone and free from intrusions.
Confidentiality refers to the nondisclosure of information received from or concerning patients.
Communication of information between health providers is essential to quality care. Information that has no bearing on the patient encounter is not shared information. Additional limits on privacy and confidentiality exist because society sometimes deems individual and collective needs more important than any individual's need for privacy or confidentiality. Examples include situations where individual or public health and safety are in danger such as threats to life or the risk of exposure to contagious diseases. The public recognizes the importance of confidentiality in health care.