What is meant by breach of contract?

Breach of contract refers to a situation where one party fails to fulfill their obligations as stipulated in a binding agreement. In the context of healthcare, this can involve various types of agreements, such as contracts between healthcare providers and patients, or between healthcare organizations and other entities. When a healthcare provider does not perform the services or meet the standards agreed upon in a contract, this constitutes a breach of contract.

For example, if a patient schedules a surgery and the healthcare provider fails to perform the procedure on the agreed date without notifying the patient or providing a valid reason, this would be a breach of contract. It is essential to understand that a breach of contract doesn't necessarily have to be deliberate; it can occur through negligence or inability to perform.

The other options, while significant concerns in healthcare, do not directly equate to a breach of contract. Failure to treat a patient and providing inadequate medical care pertain more to medical malpractice or negligence rather than contractual failure. Unauthorized sharing of patient information relates to violations of patient confidentiality and privacy laws, particularly under regulations like HIPAA, rather than a breach of an agreement itself.