Difference between revisions of "Getting Your Medical Records"

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Getting Your Medical Records (view source)

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==Medical records that your doctor keeps==
==Medical records that your doctor keeps==
To see your medical records kept by your doctor, just ask the doctor to see them. Your doctor has a privacy officer—usually the doctor—to deal with the request. Under the BC ''[http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03063_01 Personal Information Protection Act]'', you have a right to see the information. And the doctor will normally show you the records or give you the information in them. You can also ask for a copy of your records, but the doctor may charge you a fee (set by the [https://www.doctorsofbc.ca/ BC Medical Association] in its fee guide to copy them because medical insurance does not pay for this. You could also ask to take a picture of the records with your phone—this option is quite new so doctors may not have a position on it yet.
Doctors must keep medical records for at least 16 years from the last entry in the record, or from when the patient reaches the age of majority (19 years old in BC)—whichever comes later.  


Doctors have to keep medical records for at least 16 years from the last entry in the record, or from when the patient reaches the age of majority (19 years old in BC)—whichever comes later.  
*'''To see your medical records kept by your doctor'''—ask the doctor to see them. Your doctor’s office has a privacy officer—usually the doctor—to deal with the request. Under the BC ''[http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03063_01 Personal Information Protection Act]'', you have a right to see the information. And the doctor will normally show you the records or give you the information in them.  


'''Accuracy and privacy of doctor records'''—the College requires all doctors to keep and securely store accurate records for every patient, with the date and type of every service provided to them. And the ''[http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03063_01 Personal Information Protection Act]'' requires doctors to make sure the information in your medical records is accurate and to keep it private. If you think the doctor made a mistake in your medical records, you can ask them to fix it. The doctor has to make a note of your request. But once medical information is recorded, it is not supposed to be destroyed or changed based on a patient’s request.
*'''To get a copy of your medical records'''—ask the doctor for a copy of your records. They may charge you a fee (the [https://www.doctorsofbc.ca/ BC Medical Association] sets approximate fees in its fee guide) to copy them because the Medical Services Plan does not pay for it. Instead, you could ask to take a picture of the records with your phone.


Rarely, a doctor may refuse to give you the information in your medical record, thinking that it could cause immediate or grave harm to your safety or to your physical or mental health. If that happens, and you can’t solve the problem with your doctor, contact the [http://www.cpsbc.ca/ College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC]. The College’s Complaints Department may be able to help you. The College phone number is 604.733.7758 in Vancouver and 1.800.461.3008 elsewhere in BC.
==Accuracy and privacy of doctor records==
The College requires all doctors to keep and securely store accurate records for every patient, with the date and type of every service provided to them. And the ''[http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03063_01 Personal Information Protection Act]'' requires doctors to make sure the information in your medical records is accurate and to keep it private. If you think the doctor made a mistake in your medical records, you can ask them to fix it. The doctor has to make a note of your request. But once medical information is recorded, it is not supposed to be destroyed or changed based on a patient’s request.


If you still can’t solve the problem, contact the [http://www.oipc.bc.ca/ Information & Privacy Commissioner for BC]. The Commissioner’s phone number in Victoria is 250.387.5629 and the email is [mailto:info@oipc.bc.ca info@oipc.bc.ca]. Outside of Victoria, call Enquiry BC and ask for the Office of the Information & Privacy Commissioner. To reach Enquiry BC, call 604.660.2421 in the lower mainland and 1.800.663.7867 elsewhere in BC.
If you can’t get your medical records from your doctor (for example, if the doctor moved or retired and you can’t find them, or they refuse to give you the information) you can contact the [http://www.cpsbc.ca/ College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC] for help. The College phone number is 604.733.7758 in Vancouver and 1.800.461.3008 elsewhere in BC.
 
You can also contact the [http://www.oipc.bc.ca/ Information & Privacy Commissioner for BC]. The Commissioner’s phone number in Victoria is 250.387.5629 and the email is [mailto:info@oipc.bc.ca info@oipc.bc.ca]. Outside of Victoria, call Enquiry BC and ask for the Office of the Information & Privacy Commissioner. To reach Enquiry BC, call 604.660.2421 in the lower mainland and 1.800.663.7867 elsewhere in BC.


Lastly, you can see a lawyer for legal advice on what to do.
Lastly, you can see a lawyer for legal advice on what to do.
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To see your hospital records, contact the medical or health records department of the hospital and ask for their information and privacy office or the person in charge of giving out information. If you make a written request, the hospital has 30 days to respond. Usually, you can see your hospital records and get a copy. The ''[http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96165_00 Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act]'' covers records kept by hospitals and other public entities. Check script [[Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (Script 235)|235]], called “Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy” for more on this law.  
To see your hospital records, contact the medical or health records department of the hospital and ask for their information and privacy office or the person in charge of giving out information. If you make a written request, the hospital has 30 days to respond. Usually, you can see your hospital records and get a copy. The ''[http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96165_00 Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act]'' covers records kept by hospitals and other public entities. Check script [[Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (Script 235)|235]], called “Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy” for more on this law.  


'''Accuracy and privacy of hospital records'''—the ''[http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96165_00 Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act]'' requires hospitals to make sure the information in your medical records is accurate and to keep it private. This law also gives you the right to ask the hospital to correct any errors or omissions in your records. The hospital has to make a note of your request. But once medical information is recorded, it is not supposed to be destroyed or changed based on a patient’s request.
==Accuracy and privacy of hospital records==
The ''[http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96165_00 Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act]'' requires hospitals to make sure the information in your medical records is accurate and to keep it private. This law also gives you the right to ask the hospital to correct any errors or omissions in your records. The hospital has to make a note of your request. But once medical information is recorded, it is not supposed to be destroyed or changed based on a patient’s request.


Hospitals have to keep most medical records for at least 10 years (and some for 6 years) under the ''[http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/121_97#section14 Hospital Act Regulation]''.  
Hospitals have to keep most medical records for at least 10 years (and some for 6 years) under the ''[http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/121_97#section14 Hospital Act Regulation]''.  
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# If you apply for life or health insurance, the insurance company will often need your medical records before giving you insurance.
# If you apply for life or health insurance, the insurance company will often need your medical records before giving you insurance.
# Some types of jobs may require medical information. However, potential employers can get your records only if you agree to let them see the records.
# Some types of jobs may require medical information. However, potential employers can get your records only if you agree to let them see the records.
If you want someone to see information in your medical records (for example, you want a family member to help you make healthcare decisions) talk to your healthcare provider about letting the person receive your medical records.


[http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03063_01#section18 Section 18] of the ''[http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03063_01 Personal Information Protection Act]'', which applies to doctors, lists other reasons for giving out personal information—some of them could apply to medical records. [http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03063_01#section33 Section 33] of the ''[http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96165_00 Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act]'', which applies to hospitals, lists other reasons for giving out personal information—some of them could apply to medical records.
[http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03063_01#section18 Section 18] of the ''[http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03063_01 Personal Information Protection Act]'', which applies to doctors, lists other reasons for giving out personal information—some of them could apply to medical records. [http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03063_01#section33 Section 33] of the ''[http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96165_00 Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act]'', which applies to hospitals, lists other reasons for giving out personal information—some of them could apply to medical records.
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==More information==
==More information==
Check ''[https://www.oipc.bc.ca/guidance-documents/1470 Privacy and Security in the BC Health Care System Today]'', produced by the [https://www.oipc.bc.ca/ Office of the Information & Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia]. It gives an overview of the topic and outlines the expectations of doctors and hospitals. 
Check the [https://www.oipc.bc.ca/guidance-documents/1470 BC Physician Privacy Toolkit] produced by the [https://www.oipc.bc.ca/ Office of the Information & Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia].  




[updated March 2016]
[updated June 2018]


'''The above was edited by John Blois.'''


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