What legal term describes the right of a patient to maintain control over certain personal information?

The term that describes the right of a patient to maintain control over certain personal information is privacy. Privacy is fundamentally about an individual's right to keep their personal information secure and to have autonomy over their own data, especially in the context of healthcare. This includes the ability to control who accesses their personal health information, making informed decisions about how that information can be used and shared.

In healthcare, privacy is a crucial aspect because it underlies the trust patients have in their providers. When patients know their information will not be disclosed without their consent, they are more likely to provide complete and accurate information to their healthcare providers, which enhances the quality of care.

Other terms mentioned relate to different aspects of handling information in a healthcare context. Access refers to a patient's right to reach their own health information. Confidentiality pertains to the obligation of healthcare providers to safeguard personal information against unauthorized access. Security involves the measures taken to protect information from breaches, but none of these terms encompass the broader concept of a patient’s right to control their own personal information as comprehensively as privacy does.