Final answer:
A massage therapist cannot legally breach confidentiality by contacting a patient's sexual partners to reveal the patient's diagnosis; this would violate HIPAA rules which protect patient privacy.
Step-by-step explanation:
A massage therapist can legally breach confidentiality under certain circumstances, which are generally aligned with legal requirements and the need to protect the welfare of the individual or the public. An example of a legal breach would be if there is a court order requiring the disclosure of patient information. Another instance is if the therapist believes the patient is at risk of harming themselves or others, and disclosure is necessary to prevent harm. However, contacting a patient's sexual partners and revealing the patient's diagnosis would not be a legally permissible breach of confidentiality, as it contravenes the protection of personal health information dictated by HIPAA.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) mandates that healthcare providers and other entities handle patient information with the utmost confidentiality, making it illegal to disclose such information without the patient's consent or a clear, legally-defined exception.