Which aspect falls under respect for persons, including privacy and confidentiality?

• A. Veracity
• B. Dignity
• C. Autonomy
• D. Fidelity

Answer: (B)

Respect for persons means recognizing each individual’s inherent worth and treating them with appropriate care and consideration, including protecting what matters to them like their privacy and personal information. Privacy and confidentiality are concrete ways this respect is expressed, because safeguarding a person’s private information honors their dignity and helps maintain trust in the patient–professional relationship.

Dignity best fits as the answer because it embodies the inherent worth of the person and the obligation to treat them with respect, which includes protecting their privacy and keeping information confidential. The other concepts relate to different ethical duties: veracity concerns truth-telling, autonomy concerns the person’s right to make their own decisions, and fidelity concerns keeping promises. While all are important, they do not directly capture the protective stance toward privacy and confidentiality as a manifestation of respecting persons.