If a fellow cancer registrar requests confidential information about a patient, how should Jesse respond?

When responding to a request for confidential information about a patient, adherence to legal and ethical guidelines is paramount. The choice indicating that it would be a violation of the law to provide the information is accurate because patient confidentiality is protected by laws such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). These regulations are in place to ensure that sensitive patient data is only accessible to authorized individuals who have a legitimate need for that information for treatment, billing, or health care operations.

This response underscores the importance of maintaining patient privacy and indicates an understanding of the responsibilities associated with handling confidential medical information. It prevents unauthorized disclosure that could lead to legal ramifications for both the registrar and the healthcare facility.

Options that suggest providing the information or asking for additional identifiers like the friend’s name and date of birth could potentially compromise patient confidentiality and violate legal standards. Therefore, the correct response emphasizes the need for strict compliance with confidentiality laws.