In telemedicine, which approach best supports patient privacy and consent?

• A. Immediately switch to in-person appointment to avoid privacy concerns.
• B. Do nothing about privacy and proceed with telemedicine.
• C. Confirm patient privacy preferences, explain protections, obtain explicit consent, and offer alternatives if needed.
• D. Only provide a privacy policy in writing.

Answer: (C)

Privacy in telemedicine hinges on actively honoring patient autonomy and ensuring informed consent for remote care. The best approach is to confirm the patient’s privacy preferences, clearly explain the protections in place (like encryption, secure platforms, access controls, and data handling), obtain explicit consent to use telemedicine, and offer alternatives if the patient prefers a different modality or has concerns. This approach protects confidentiality, supports informed choice, and aligns care with the patient’s comfort and rights. Simply switching to in-person to avoid privacy concerns isn’t practical or scalable, doing nothing fails to address risks, and providing only a written policy may not ensure understanding or voluntary consent.