When a patient requests that their dental records be transferred to another dental practitioner, honoring this request reflects which ethical principle?

Autonomy is the right of patients to make informed decisions about their own healthcare, including choosing their healthcare providers and accessing their own medical records. Patients have a legal right under HIPAA to access and direct transfer of their protected health information. Honoring a record transfer request respects the patient's autonomous decision to seek care elsewhere. Beneficence involves acting in the patient's best interest (passive — it benefits the patient, but the principle at play is autonomy). Confidentiality involves protecting patient information, not sharing it — though here sharing is appropriate at the patient's request.