What information must a physician maintain confidential according to medical ethics?

The confidentiality of a patient's medical information is a cornerstone of medical ethics and is vital for maintaining trust between the patient and physician. The correct response highlights that a patient's full name and diagnosis must be kept confidential. This confidentiality is critical because revealing either the diagnosis or the patient’s identity could lead to stigma, discrimination, or potential emotional harm.

In the context of medical ethics and privacy laws, such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), any identifiable information about a patient, including their diagnosis, is protected. The obligation to keep a patient's diagnosis confidential extends to all healthcare providers, ensuring that the individual's right to privacy is respected and upheld.

While patient insurance information, medical history, and treatment options are also sensitive, the full name and diagnosis encompass a more comprehensive aspect of a patient’s identity, which warrants prioritized confidentiality. These elements are protected because they can directly inform how others perceive a patient and may deeply affect their well-being and dignity. Thus, maintaining this confidentiality is essential for ethical medical practice.