Are patients 'Allowed' to look at their Charts?

Are patients 'Allowed' to look at their Charts?

John and I were having this discussion just before

I say 'ABSOLUTELY'
John says, 'Nope theyre confidential'.

We each have a story to defend our response, and now Im wondering which is the right answer.

We were just at the OBs office for a regular checkup, and my last Dr used to leave the charts/folder in the room while I waited so I'd flip thru and read all about my progress, etc. My Dr now doesnt leave it in the room, and I get kinda bummed if I dont get a peek and my charts...

So whats the answer? Lets see whose right on this one
Or are just certain parts of it confidential? The part where Dr's take notes (for example to say youre a looney on a placebo? )

Re: Are patients 'Allowed' to look at their records?

Your records are absolutely open to you. If your doctor refuses to reveal to you your medical records, fight it. However, I do understand why they don't leave them around anymore. Technically, under HIPAA, your husband is no longer allowed to just get information about your medical records without your permission. So if you and your hubby are in the doctor's office together, waiting to be examined, and the file is kept on the counter, he could just walk over and take a look at it. And, especially at the OB/GYN, there are things in there that a woman may not want to share with her husband (especially if it's in the past or if it's something she is hiding from him). The doctor would then be responsible for leaving it out in the open.

However, your records belong to you, and if you change doctors, you absolutely have the right to, and should, ask for your records.

So bottom line...YOU WIN!

Re: Are patients 'Allowed' to look at their Charts?

you definitely have a right to them. Sometimes you may have to sign a release to actually get them though.

Re: Are patients 'Allowed' to look at their Charts?

You absolutely have a legal right to them.

Re: Are patients 'Allowed' to look at their Charts?

Yes, not only are you entitled to 'peek', but you can have copies, my friend does it all the time to take to other doctors, etc.

Re: Are patients 'Allowed' to look at their Charts?

Re: Are patients 'Allowed' to look at their Charts?

I used to work in a doctors office, and we did make patients copies of what they requested. However, we did need a letter of records release to give another family member copies of your medical records.

Re: Are patients 'Allowed' to look at their Charts?

Interned with HIPAA, and worked in a dr's office. You definitely have the right to view your records.

Re: Are patients 'Allowed' to look at their Charts?

I work in the medical field, with the new HIPPA laws it is a sticky situation. I cannot let a pt. even look in the appt book. You have to sign a release for anyone else to see your chart or even discuss things with and who they are to you. Also, I was thinking ..... if they cannot let you have anyone else look at the book, what about the explanation of medical benefits...it goes to the insured... hmmmmmm....... with exactly what was done to the patient. Makes you think!

Re: Are patients 'Allowed' to look at their Charts?

Re: Are patients 'Allowed' to look at their Charts?

YES!

Re: Are patients 'Allowed' to look at their Charts?

Do you remember the Seinfeld episode where Elaine was a 'difficult' patient and it was written in her chart

Re: Are patients 'Allowed' to look at their Charts?

Re: Are patients 'Allowed' to look at their Charts?

That was a good one

Re: Are patients 'Allowed' to look at their Charts?

at my internist the girl who does the pressure and stuff always leaves the chart open on the table and shuts the door, then the dr takes like 15 min to come in so I sometimes look but half the time I cannot read the handwriting!

Re: Are patients 'Allowed' to look at their Charts?

Remember a Seinfeld episode when elaine's doctor wrote that she was 'difficult' in her file and than every doctor in the city refused to see her...

she was trying to look at the chart unsuccesfully for the whole episode and even made kramer try to steal it

LOL. I just looked! I didn't realize someone already said that!

Re: Are patients 'Allowed' to look at their Charts?

I remember that Seinfeld episode!!!

Anna, yet again here's where John and Joe are alike....

I agree with you and think we should be able to look at the records, Joe doesn't. When my father was in the hospital, his chart was at the foot of the bed and I picked it up and Joe had a stroke!!! He starts hitting my hand telling me 'you can't do that' and I was like 'why not, it's my father!?' Meanwhile, I couldn't understand one word they had written down anyway!!

I know it wasn't my records, but it's still family and I didn't see anything (before I get flamed for this one). As for my own, my OB never left it in the room for me to see!