If a family member asks for the patient's information and the patient has not authorized disclosure, what should you do?

• A. Share information with family
• B. Provide only medical history
• C. Do not disclose; verify consent; protect privacy; refer to healthcare provider
• D. Ignore the request

Answer: (C)

Protecting patient privacy is essential. When a family member asks for information and the patient has not authorized disclosure, you must uphold confidentiality and not share any details. The appropriate steps are to verify whether there is any consent to share, protect the patient’s privacy, and refer the request to the healthcare provider to discuss possible authorization. Only with explicit patient authorization should information be released to family or others.