Which statement differentiates confidentiality from privileged communication and describes when disclosure without client consent may occur?

• A. Confidentiality is the ethical duty to protect client information; privileged communication is a legal protection restricting disclosure in court.
• B. Confidentiality is a legal protection that never requires client consent for disclosure.
• C. Confidentiality is the ethical duty to protect client information; privileged communication is a legal protection restricting disclosure in court; disclosure without consent is allowed for mandated reporting of abuse, imminent risk of harm to self or others, court orders, or as required by law.
• D. Confidentiality and privileged communication are the same; there are no exceptions.

Answer: (C)

Confidentiality is the ethical duty to protect client information; privileged communication is a legal protection restricting disclosure in court. The best answer captures both definitions and the real-world exceptions where disclosure without client consent is allowed: mandated reporting of abuse, imminent risk of harm to self or others, court orders—or as required by law. This combination shows why confidentiality guides everyday practice, while privileged communication provides court-based protection that can be overridden under specific legal obligations. The other statements either misstate confidentiality as a legal protection, ignore the legal aspect of privilege, or claim there are no differences and thus miss the necessary caveats.