Final answer:
Releasing medical records without the patient's consent constitutes a breach of confidential information, while sharing details with a specialist, providing records to the patient, or discussing cases for educational purposes without revealing identities, typically do not.
Step-by-step explanation:
Medical records contain highly sensitive personal information and are protected by laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), to ensure that confidential information is safeguarded. One common breach of this confidentiality occurs when records are released without the patient's consent, which could lead to personal information being disclosed to unauthorized parties. Conversely, sharing information with a specialist for treatment purposes, providing records to a patient upon their request, or discussing a case with a colleague for educational purposes (without revealing identifiable patient information) are generally not considered breaches as these actions are either part of the patient's treatment or fall within the realm of professional healthcare practice that respects patient confidentiality.