What is considered a breach of confidentiality?

A breach of confidentiality is defined as the unauthorized disclosure of a patient’s private health information. This means that when a healthcare provider or any employee handling sensitive patient data shares that information without the explicit consent of the patient, it constitutes a breach. Such disclosures can occur in various forms, including discussing patient information in public areas, sharing records without proper authorization, or failing to protect electronic data from unauthorized access.

Maintaining confidentiality is crucial in healthcare, as it helps build trust between patients and providers. Violating this trust through unauthorized disclosures can lead to significant legal and ethical repercussions. Understanding the specific parameters of what constitutes a breach is fundamental in ensuring compliance with regulations like HIPAA, which protects patient information from unauthorized access and sharing.