### Question
How is the term breach defined?


### Answer
The term **breach** is defined in *42 U.S.C. § 17921* as the following:

> the unauthorized acquisition, access, use, or disclosure of protected health information which compromises the security or privacy of such information, except where an unauthorized person to whom such information is disclosed would not reasonably have been able to retain such information

#### Citation:
  - *42 U.S.C. § 17921*
  - Heading: **CHAPTER 156-HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY > SUBCHAPTER III-PRIVACY**

