Final answer:
The ethical principle that protects a patient's personal health information is confidentiality, in accordance with laws such as HIPPA that enforce privacy and confidentiality of patient records.
Step-by-step explanation:
The patient's personal health information is protected under the ethical principle of confidentiality. This principle requires healthcare professionals to keep a patient's personal health information private unless consent to release the information is given by the patient. This principle is in line with legal considerations, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), which mandates strict confidentiality of patient records.