Which protects patient privacy under federal law?

• A. HIPAA
• B. Informed consent
• C. Ethics committee
• D. Infection control

Answer: (A)

Privacy protections under federal law are provided by HIPAA. This act sets national standards for protecting health information and governs how protected health information can be used and shared by covered entities such as healthcare providers, health plans, and their business associates. It also gives patients rights over their own health information, including access to their records and the ability to request corrections, along with requirements for safeguarding data in both digital and physical forms. The other options relate to obtaining permission for care, ethical oversight, or preventing infections, but they do not establish the federal privacy protections that HIPAA does.