Which of the following describes breach of confidentiality?

Breach of confidentiality refers specifically to the violation of the trust placed in healthcare providers to keep patient information private. Disclosing patient information without permission exemplifies this breach because it goes against the ethical duty and legal obligation healthcare professionals have to protect personal health information. Confidentiality is a cornerstone of the patient-provider relationship, fostering trust and encouraging patients to fully disclose pertinent information necessary for their care.

The other options relate to different ethical and legal issues in healthcare. Failing to provide adequate care pertains to substandard care or negligence in medical practice, intentionally harming a patient reflects issues around malpractice or assault, and negligence in treatment addresses lapses in the standard of care. While all are serious matters, they do not specifically relate to the violation of confidentiality.