Which of the following is a consequence of breaching patient confidentiality?

Breaching patient confidentiality can lead to legal action against the provider for several reasons. Patient confidentiality is a fundamental legal and ethical obligation in healthcare that protects personal medical information. When this confidentiality is violated, it can result in lawsuits or other legal repercussions from patients whose rights have been compromised. Additionally, violating confidentiality can lead to regulatory penalties from organizations that oversee healthcare practices, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the United States. This emphasizes the importance of safeguarding patient information to maintain both ethical standards and legal compliance in medical practice.

In contrast, the other options describe outcomes that would not realistically follow a breach of confidentiality. Increased trust, higher patient satisfaction, and improved office reputation are all positive consequences that tend to arise when patients feel their information is secure, rather than when trust is undermined by confidentiality breaches.