What is the term for a professional's duty to keep client's information confidential?

The term that refers to a professional's duty to keep a client's information confidential is known as confidentiality. This is a foundational principle in many fields, including massage therapy, where practitioners handle sensitive personal information. Adhering to confidentiality ensures that clients feel safe and secure sharing their concerns, which is crucial for building trust and rapport in the therapeutic relationship.

Confidentiality is important not only for ethical reasons but also for legal protection and compliance with various laws and regulations regarding client privacy. This obligation informs practitioners that they must not disclose client information without proper consent or authorization, except in certain circumstances defined by law.

While informed consent pertains to the agreement between the client and the practitioner regarding the treatment process, it does not directly address the confidentiality of the information shared. Professional ethics encompasses a broader range of guidelines, which includes confidentiality as one component but is not limited to it. Trustworthiness relates to the quality of the professional relationship but does not specifically define the legal and ethical duty of maintaining client confidentiality.