What is the term for revealing patient information without consent?

The correct term for revealing patient information without consent is breach of confidentiality. Confidentiality is a fundamental principle in medical ethics and law, ensuring that patient information is kept private and shared only with authorized individuals. When a healthcare provider or anyone with access to a patient's information discloses that information without the patient's consent, it constitutes a breach of this trust and violates legal and ethical standards. Such breaches can have serious repercussions for the patient, including emotional distress and damage to their reputation, as well as legal consequences for the individual or organization that disclosed the information.

In contrast, intentional torts refer to a broader category of wrongful acts that are committed deliberately, but not all intentional torts specifically involve patient information. Malpractice is a legal term that describes a situation where a healthcare provider fails to provide the standard of care expected in their profession, leading to harm to the patient, but it does not specifically address confidentiality violations. Defamation involves making false statements that harm a person's reputation, which is distinct from the unauthorized sharing of private medical information.