Final answer:
Information considered confidential should be released only to authorized parties, with legal protections including FOIA and HIPAA setting careful guidelines for such disclosures to ensure personal and national security.
Step-by-step explanation:
Information must be considered confidential and shall be released only to authorized individuals or entities. This encompasses various types of sensitive information including personal, financial, and medical data shared with businesses and organizations, as well as government national security secrets. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) allows for the release of information with certain exemptions mentioned such as trade secrets, national security, or law enforcement information. However, there exist reasonable exceptions to protect individuals and the public interest, such as medical records for government employees and instances involving personal privacy.
Researchers and organizations are required to preserve confidentiality and seek informed consent, protecting subjects' rights to privacy and dignity. In special circumstances, like in the landmark Pentagon Papers case, the Supreme Court has ruled on the tension between the public's right to know and the government's need for secrecy, allowing the publication of certain information while withholding sensitive details like troop movements and the identities of operatives. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is another legal measure that strictly regulates the confidentiality of patient records.