Do Not Publish Privacy Flag — SCE Palliative Medicine MCQ

Correct answer: D — Neither confirm nor deny that the patient is in the hospital — the 'Do not publish' flag means no information is disclosed to any enquirer

Explanation lettering: E = shown as A · A = shown as B · B = shown as C · C = shown as E

The correct answer is D. The 'Do not publish' request is a documented, patient‑led instruction within the NHS Patient Administration System that prohibits disclosure of any admission details to external enquirers. UK confidentiality rules clearly state that an individual’s objection to sharing confidential information must be respected ([digital.nhs.uk](https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/looking-after-information/data-security-and-information-governance/codes-of-practice-for-handling-information-in-health-and-care/a-guide-to-confidentiality-in-health-and-social-care/a-guide-to-confidentiality/what-are-the-confidentiality-rules?utm_source=openai)), and professionals must check for such objections before disclosing any information ([digital.nhs.uk](https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/information-governance/guidance/use-and-share-information-with-confidence?utm_source=openai)). Options A and E disclose clinical or sensitive details and breach confidentiality. Option C, by confirming admission, violates the explicit 'do not publish' instruction. Option B, while deflecting the call, fails to acknowledge the patient’s explicit directive; the lawful and correct response is total non‑disclosure. Option D is the only response aligned with NHS confidentiality policy.

Reference: A guide to confidentiality in health and social care – Rule 4 (October 2025); Use and share information with confidence (May 2026) — digital.nhs.uk