Without the patient's authorization, a dentist discloses the patient's biopsy result to the patient's spouse. Which principle has been violated?

Correct answer: B. Autonomy (patient confidentiality)

• A. ❌ Non-maleficence concerns avoiding harm. Harm may follow, but the principle directly breached is autonomy.
• B. ✅ CORRECT — Confidentiality flows from AUTONOMY: the patient alone controls who receives information about their health. Being a spouse confers no automatic right of access. Disclosure requires the patient's authorization unless a specific legal exception applies.
• C. ❌ Veracity concerns truth-telling; the information disclosed was true — the problem was that it was disclosed at all.
• D. ❌ Beneficence is acting in the patient's interest — sharing without permission is not that, even when well intentioned.

Note: Legal counterpart: this is also a HIPAA privacy breach. Autonomy → informed consent, confidentiality, and the right to refuse.