Which action best supports privacy and confidentiality for a rape victim in care?

• A. Provide compassionate care
• B. Maintain confidentiality
• C. Disclose information to family without consent
• D. Leave the victim alone

Answer: (B)

Respecting privacy and confidentiality is essential because it protects the person’s autonomy, builds trust, and reduces the risk of additional harm. In practice, this means sharing information only with those who need to know and only with the patient’s explicit consent, keeping records secure, and clearly communicating any limits to confidentiality from the start. Compassionate care matters, but it doesn’t by itself guarantee privacy; sharing details without consent would undermine safety and trust. Disclosing information to family without consent violates privacy, and leaving the person alone doesn’t address privacy concerns. Maintaining confidentiality is the action that best supports privacy in care.