What signifies a breach of confidentiality?

A breach of confidentiality occurs when personal information is disclosed to unauthorized individuals without the consent of the individual involved. This is a violation of the ethical principles that govern research practices, particularly when working with sensitive populations such as prisoners. Confidentiality is a fundamental aspect of research ethics, as it helps protect the privacy of participants and fosters trust in the research process. When researchers share identifiable information without proper authorization, it can lead to harm, stigma, and negative repercussions for the individuals involved.

The other options represent different scenarios that relate to research but do not specifically indicate a breach of confidentiality. For example, when a participant withdraws from a study, it pertains to their rights within the research process rather than a confidentiality issue. Similarly, data loss during analysis concerns data integrity and security rather than the unauthorized sharing of personal information. Finally, when participants refuse to sign consent forms, it relates to the issue of informed consent but does not involve the disclosure of confidential information. Thus, the sharing of personal information with unauthorized individuals remains the primary indicator of a breach of confidentiality.