Final answer:
The federal law that ensures the confidentiality and security of health information is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which requires entities handling health information to maintain strict confidentiality of patient records.
Step-by-step explanation:
The federal law that relates to keeping a person's health information confidential and secure is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Passed into law in 1996, HIPAA sets standards for the protection of patient information. It mandates businesses that deal with health information, such as insurance companies and healthcare providers, to uphold strict confidentiality and security of patient records.
Privacy of health records is critical when considering the balance between treatment costs, quality of life, and individual privacy risks. Conflicts can arise when necessary, health actions could infringe upon privacy rights, such as contacting a patient's sexual partners about potential exposures without disclosing the patient's condition.
Moreover, federal laws like HIPAA prevent potential misuse of sensitive health information, thereby protecting against discrimination based on an individual's health data, such as genetic information, which is particularly sensitive.