Final answer:
HIPAA, enacted in 1996, protects patient privacy by prohibiting the release of identifiable health information without consent, balancing individual privacy against the need for disclosure in healthcare while navigating ethical concerns.
Step-by-step explanation:
HIPAA, or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, was created to set the standards for the protection of patient information and to maintain the confidentiality of patient records. It ensures that businesses like insurance companies and healthcare providers do not divulge individual health information without consent. The law is a safeguard to prevent the unauthorized release of individually identifiable health information to entities not involved in providing care to the patient. Following HIPAA, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) was enacted in 2008, specifically prohibiting genetic discrimination by health insurance companies and employers.
From an ethical standpoint, HIPAA impacts decisions such as whether a physician can contact a patient's sexual partners about potential risks without violating privacy rights. HIPAA draws a line ensuring that patient information can't be released without consent, but this also raises questions when the health of others, such as sexual partners, could be at risk. The law carefully balances privacy concerns against the need for disclosure in certain healthcare scenarios.