Which action demonstrates proper handling of patient records to avoid privacy violations?

• A. Sharing patient details with family without consent
• B. Printing records to leave unattended
• C. Reading an open patient record
• D. Logging out after accessing a patient file

Answer: (C)

Access to patient records should be limited to legitimate, authorized use and handled in a way that keeps information within the confines of care. Reading a patient record that you are authorized to view and need for the patient’s care demonstrates you’re using the data for its intended purpose and not disclosing it or leaving it exposed. This shows you’re engaging with the information responsibly within your role.

The other options clearly breach privacy: sharing patient details with family without consent is an unauthorized disclosure; printing records to leave unattended creates a physical security risk; while logging out after accessing a file is a good practice, the action of reading an open record best reflects handling data in a controlled, purpose-driven way in the context of this question.