According to the AMA, what is the key reason behind a physician's duty of confidentiality to a patient?

A. The U.S. Consititution requires a physician's confidentiality.
B. The patient will feel more confident in disclosing information to a physician.
C.If a patient reveals information about a patient,that information isn't admissible in a lawsuit.
D.Sharing a patient's medical information is a form of defamation.

I am tossed up between B and D

answer is B

I lean toward D.

Thank-You

To find the answer to this question, we can start by understanding what the AMA is. The AMA, or American Medical Association, is a professional organization representing physicians and advocating for high-quality healthcare.

Now, let's go through each option and see which one aligns with the key reason behind a physician's duty of confidentiality to a patient:

A. The U.S. Constitution requires a physician's confidentiality: While the Constitution protects individual rights, including privacy, it does not explicitly mandate a physician's duty of confidentiality. So, this option is unlikely to be the key reason.

B. The patient will feel more confident in disclosing information to a physician: This option makes sense because if patients know that their information will be kept confidential, they are more likely to trust and be open with their physician. Trust is essential for effective healthcare. Therefore, this option could be a potential key reason.

C. If a patient reveals information about a patient, that information isn't admissible in a lawsuit: While this option may be a consequence of physician-patient confidentiality, it is not the primary reason for it. The key reason behind confidentiality is to create a safe space for patients to share sensitive information without fear of it being shared without consent.

D. Sharing a patient's medical information is a form of defamation: Defamation refers to making false statements that harm someone's reputation. While sharing a patient's medical information without consent is unethical, it is not necessarily defamatory. This option seems less likely to be the key reason behind a physician's duty of confidentiality.

Based on this analysis, option B, "The patient will feel more confident in disclosing information to a physician," seems to be the most plausible and aligned with the key reason behind a physician's duty of confidentiality to a patient.