Final answer:
Confidentiality is both an ethical and legal obligation. It involves keeping information private and respecting individual privacy rights. Laws and regulations, such as HIPAA, mandate the protection of confidential information.
Step-by-step explanation:
Confidentiality is both an ethical and legal obligation. This statement is true. Confidentiality refers to the practice of keeping information private and only disclosing it with the consent of the individual. It is an ethical obligation because it involves respecting the rights and privacy of individuals. It is also a legal obligation because laws and regulations, such as agency, state, and federal rules, mandate the protection of confidential information. For example, in the medical field, healthcare professionals are bound by laws like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to maintain patient confidentiality.