Which term describes opinions formed before facts are known that can influence unfairly?

• A. Biases
• B. Confidentiality
• C. Body language
• D. Criminal Law

Answer: (A)

Bias is a tendency to form opinions or judgments before having all the facts, and that premature viewpoint can unfairly color how you perceive a patient, their symptoms, or the likelihood of following a treatment plan. In healthcare, bias can lead to inconsistent or unequal care if decisions are guided by stereotypes rather than solid evidence. To counter this, professionals rely on objective data, standardized assessments, and evidence-based guidelines to keep judgments fair. The other terms refer to privacy (confidentiality), nonverbal signals (body language), and law (criminal law), which do not describe preformed, unfair judgments.