Which term describes information that is private and not to be shared?

The term that describes information that is private and not to be shared is "confidential." This designation indicates that the information is sensitive and access to it is limited to authorized individuals only. In a veterinary context, confidentiality is crucial for maintaining the trust between clients and veterinary staff, as it pertains to private health information about pets or personal details about the pet owners. The legal and ethical obligation to protect this type of information is a fundamental aspect of veterinary practice.

Other terms like "public," "open," and "restricted" imply varying levels of accessibility. Public information is readily available to anyone, while open information allows wider access but may not be entirely unrestricted. Restricted information suggests limitations but might not carry the same strong connotation of privacy and protection that confidential information does. Thus, in situations where information is intended to remain secret or known only to specific parties, "confidential" is the most appropriate term.