A dentist contacts the patient's home and discloses treatment information to the patient's spouse without consent. Which ethical principle is MOST directly violated?

Correct answer: C. Autonomy (patient's right to control their own health information)

• A. Beneficence (acting in the patient's best interest) is not violated by this disclosure; autonomy is.
• B. Justice concerns equitable treatment and resource allocation, not privacy or confidentiality.
• C. Correct. Disclosing a patient's health information to a third party without the patient's consent violates patient autonomy — specifically the patient's right to control who has access to their protected health information. This also constitutes a HIPAA breach.
• D. While harm could result (e.g., relationship damage), the primary ethical violation is the breach of patient autonomy and confidentiality.