How should a chiropractor handle patient confidentiality?

• A. Share with coworkers freely.
• B. Keep patient information confidential and disclose only as permitted by law or with patient consent.
• C. Post patient information publicly for education.
• D. Share with advertisers.

Answer: (B)

Protecting patient information is a core responsibility in chiropractic care. Patient confidentiality means keeping records private and only sharing details when it’s necessary for treatment, payment, or legally required, and only with the patient’s consent or as the law allows. In practice, you may disclose information to other health care providers involved in the patient’s care to ensure safe, coordinated treatment, but you should share only the minimum necessary information and only with appropriate authorization. Laws like HIPAA and state practice acts guide these disclosures and create exceptions for situations such as required reporting or legal processes. Disclosing to coworkers who don’t need the information, posting patient data publicly, or sharing with advertisers would violate confidentiality and undermine trust and legal obligations.