Final answer:
The correct action when discarding a patient chart, as determined by a physician, is to recycle it following privacy protocols to protect patient health records and privacy.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a physician determines that a chart can be discarded, the correct action to take is to recycle it following privacy protocols. Ensuring the protection of health records is a critical concern in healthcare management. Policies regarding the disposal of patient information must strike a balance between the costs of treatments and diagnoses, patient quality of life, and the risks to individual privacy. Essential considerations include: How to ensure the privacy of electronic records? What measures are adequate to protect privacy when personal data is involved? And what are the expectations for informed consent in the collection and disposal of biological materials such as blood samples?