Legal Definitions - confidentiality

Definition: Confidentiality refers to the state of keeping certain information private and restricted from being shared with others. It can also refer to the trust placed in one person by another, such as a lawyer and client or spouses.

• A doctor must keep their patient's medical information confidential, unless the patient gives permission to share it with others.
• A company may require employees to sign a confidentiality agreement to protect sensitive business information from being shared with competitors.
• A therapist must maintain confidentiality with their clients, unless there is a risk of harm to the client or others.

These examples illustrate how confidentiality involves keeping certain information private and restricted from being shared with others. It is important in many professions, such as healthcare, law, and business, to protect sensitive information and maintain trust with clients or customers.