When presenting case material for training or publication, what steps protect confidentiality?

• A. Present real patient identifiers with consent from the client.
• B. Anonymize identifying details and obtain informed consent from clients for publication or training use.
• C. Publish without consent if the case is educational.
• D. Do not present any cases at all.

Answer: (C)

Protecting confidentiality when sharing case material relies on two essential steps: remove identifying details and secure explicit permission for use. Anonymizing means stripping names, dates, locations, occupations, and any unique circumstances that could make a person identifiable, while keeping enough clinical information to retain educational value. Equally important is obtaining informed consent from the client, with a clear explanation of how the material will be used, where it will be published or presented, who will have access, and any potential risks. Even with consent, minimize the amount of identifying information and restrict access to those who need it for legitimate training or publication. Publishing without consent breaches confidentiality and is ethically and professionally inappropriate, while the goal of education is best met by combining careful de-identification with informed consent.