What principle ensures that protected health information is not disclosed improperly?

The principle that ensures protected health information is not disclosed improperly is confidentiality. Confidentiality is a fundamental concept in the realm of health information privacy, emphasizing the importance of protecting personal health information from unauthorized access and disclosure. It ensures that medical records and sensitive health data are kept private and shared only with individuals who have the legal right to access that information, such as healthcare providers and patients themselves.

In practice, confidentiality involves implementing safeguards, such as encryption, access controls, and privacy policies, to maintain the trust between patients and healthcare providers. This principle is crucial in fostering a secure environment where patients feel safe to provide their health information without fear of it being disclosed inappropriately.

Data minimization relates more to the practice of collecting only the necessary data required for a specific purpose, while integrity focuses on maintaining the accuracy and completeness of data. Availability, on the other hand, addresses the timely access to information when needed. While all these concepts play significant roles in data protection, it is confidentiality that directly addresses the concern of improper disclosure of protected health information.