Confidential Patient Information

Definition

Confidential patient information refers to any private and personal data shared by a patient with their psychologist during therapy sessions, which is expected to be kept confidential unless explicit consent is given for its disclosure.

Related terms

Informed Consent: Informed consent refers to the process of obtaining permission from a patient before engaging in any psychological treatment or sharing their confidential information.

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act): HIPAA is a law that protects patients' privacy rights by regulating how healthcare providers handle and disclose their personal health information.

Ethical Codes: Ethical codes are guidelines established by professional organizations, such as the American Psychological Association (APA), which outline standards of conduct for psychologists including confidentiality obligations.