Medical Records Request Form: Fill & Download for Free

The actual medical record, whether in paper or electronic form, is owned by the physician and medical office.However, the information contained in the medical record is property of the patient.You do not have the right to physically take the paper chart or remove the record in some other way. You are entitled to a copy of your medical records.This is done in the front of the office. You sign a release to get a copy of your records and these are provided to you. Legally, offices are allowed to require a reasonable fee for the expense of making this copy. It’s usually less than $25.I will often turn my computer around to show my patients various lab results or results of other tests.I do not believe a patient would have the right to look over my shoulder and read as I am generating the note. None of my patients has ever asked to do this.Once I sign the note, it becomes a part of the legal medical record and the patient can request it.

The person you spoke to who told you that you need a power of attorney is simply wrong. Call back, ask to speak to someone else, tell them that the person is asking for the wrong document since powers of attorney end when someone dies. Ask them what document they actually need you to provide to them. They probably have a form you can fill out as the deceased’s spouse to get the records.

A2A. As far as I’m aware, you have a right to all your medical records under HIPAA. There are a few hoops you have to jump through. You need to submit a written request for your medical records. Depending on the facility, you may need to fill out a form authorizing the facility to release the records to you or your proxy. This is all because the unauthorized release of medical records is a serious offense that can result in massive fines.On a personal note, I have been involved in the release of medical records exactly twice. The first time was when my son’s mother accused me of physically abusing him and causing his seizures. This was easy enough to disprove. I went to the hospital where he was treated, filled out the forms, and about a week later I had his medical records stating that his seizures were due to hyponatremia. Incidentally, nothing happened to her for levelling that unconscionable accusation at me.The other time was when a patient sued me for malpractice. The first thing my lawyer said was that she needed to see the entire medical record. I told her that I wasn’t going to provide her with that, because I didn’t want to violate the patient’s confidentiality. She almost laughed out loud that I was trying to protect a patient that was implicating me in a malpractice suit. Eventually she obtained the records directly from the hospital, and that case was thrown out of court. Again, nothing happened to that patient who wrongfully accused me.