What tort does a PCT commit by looking in a patient's chart from another unit without permission?

The correct answer is invasion of privacy. Invasion of privacy occurs when an individual's personal information or private affairs are accessed or disclosed without their consent. In a healthcare context, patient charts contain highly sensitive and confidential information about an individual’s health, treatment plans, and medical history. When someone accesses a patient's chart from another unit without permission, they are breaching the patient’s right to keep this information private, thereby committing the tort of invasion of privacy.

The other choices do not adequately fit the scenario. Negligence involves failure to exercise appropriate care resulting in damage or injury; however, simply looking at a chart involves a deliberate act rather than a failure to act. Assault typically refers to the threat or attempt of physical harm to another person, which is not applicable in this context. Breach of duty pertains to a failure to fulfill a legal or ethical obligation, but in this case, the primary concern is unauthorized access to private information, making invasion of privacy the most accurate designation of the tort committed.