Which term refers to the right to be left alone and not observed without consent?

• A. Privacy
• B. Autonomy
• C. Confidentiality
• D. Informed Consent

Answer: (A)

Privacy is the right to be left alone and not observed without consent. In nursing, this covers both physical and informational boundaries—being treated in private spaces, properly draped during exams, and having health information protected from others who aren’t authorized to see it. It’s about control over exposure and intrusion.

Autonomy is about a patient’s overall right to make decisions about their own care, which supports but is broader than just avoiding observation. Confidentiality refers to keeping information shared within the patient–provider relationship private, not to the right to avoid observation. Informed consent is about giving patients enough information to decide whether to agree to a procedure. So the description best matches privacy.