What term refers to the obligation to keep information private between individuals involved?

The term that refers to the obligation to keep information private between individuals involved is confidentiality. Confidentiality is a foundational principle in many professional fields, particularly in psychology and healthcare, where sensitive information about individuals must be protected to maintain trust and safeguard personal privacy. It ensures that any personal, health, or psychological information shared by clients or patients will not be disclosed without their consent.

While privilege does refer to a legal concept that protects certain communications from being disclosed in legal settings, it is more about legal rights than the general practice of safeguarding private information. HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) is a specific federal law that governs the protection of health information, creating standards for privacy but not defined as the general obligation to keep information private. Malpractice pertains to professional negligence and does not relate to the obligation of confidentiality. Therefore, confidentiality is the most accurate term regarding the obligation to keep sensitive information private.