During a routine day at the clinic, a medical assistant overhears a physician discussing a celebrity patient's diagnosis within earshot of other patients and staff not involved in the patient's care. The conversation includes specific details that make the patient identifiable. According to ethical standards, how should the medical assistant respond to this breach of confidentiality?
Document the incident and report it to the privacy officer or appropriate supervisory personnel.
Confront the physician directly to express disapproval of the discussion taking place in a public setting.
Discuss the incident with the patient to gauge their level of concern and determine next steps.
Ignore the situation since direct involvement with the physician’s actions is beyond the assistant's responsibilities.