Which foundational principle governs patient confidentiality in healthcare?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations serve as the foundational principle governing patient confidentiality in healthcare. HIPAA establishes national standards to protect individuals' medical records and other personal health information. It mandates that healthcare providers, insurers, and their business associates maintain the confidentiality and security of patient data.

HIPAA sets forth strict guidelines on how patient information is to be handled, including who can access it and under what circumstances. This federal law provides patients with rights regarding their health information, ensuring that they have control over their own data while guaranteeing that healthcare entities maintain its confidentiality.

While other options such as Professional Code of Ethics or Insurance Privacy Policies may have relevance to the protection of patient data, HIPAA is the specific legislation that centrally governs healthcare providers’ obligations concerning patient confidentiality at a national level, making it the most comprehensive and applicable answer in this context.