What must health care providers in Queensland do regarding patient records?

Health care providers in Queensland are required to keep patient records confidential and secure while also ensuring that patients have access to their own records. This principle is rooted in both ethical considerations and legal obligations under legislation such as the Health Records Act and the Privacy Act. Protecting the confidentiality of patient information is essential to maintaining trust in the healthcare system, and patients have the right to access their health information to promote transparency and informed decision-making about their care.

Maintaining confidentiality means implementing appropriate security measures to safeguard sensitive information, while ensuring that patients can review their own records fosters a collaborative approach to healthcare. This access can enhance patient engagement, enable better understanding of health conditions, and facilitate more informed consent processes.

In contrast, the other options present practices that would violate either patient privacy or regulatory requirements. Keeping records without patient access undermines patients’ rights and the ethical duty of transparency in health care. Storing records for only seven years does not align with legal requirements that mandate longer retention periods depending on specific contexts. Sharing records freely with third parties disregards the need for strict patient consent and confidentiality protections, potentially compromising patient privacy and trust.