Why do people 'access medical records'? what reasons for ?

System

In the past I have requested copies of my hospital records on occasions where verbal communication has been somewhat lacking!

I now use a different hospital, and I find they usually copy me in on any correspondence to my GP, so I no longer feel the need to request to see what has been written or said.

Flugelhorn

AngelOfTheNorth wrote: »

The patient would have to give permission before records could be obtained, so if they weren't happy about sharing their whole history for whatever period it couldn't happen. It's also important to get an idea if there was any pre-existing condition that influenced the injury and prognosis at all.

All the "personal injury" record requests that come through have a request for all the records ... with consent signed by the patient, there doesn't seem to be any option for them to select bits on the forms I have seen. Have even had ones where the same solicitor requested all the records 4 or 5 years ago ago and wants the whole lot again for another injury.

AngelOfTheNorth

Flugelhorn wrote: »

All the "personal injury" record requests that come through have a request for all the records ... with consent signed by the patient, there doesn't seem to be any option for them to select bits on the forms I have seen. Have even had ones where the same solicitor requested all the records 4 or 5 years ago ago and wants the whole lot again for another injury.

Regardless, it would be simply impossible for a solicitor to access entire medical records from their client without that person's permission. If a personal injury client doesn't want this, they don't have to agree to it. It would be easy to draw up a form just asking for the past 5 years or whatever, so the issue isn't with that. It's whether the solicitor could be sure of doing their job properly without it.