Old medical records - what to do?

CaptainWales

Hi. In clearing out the deceased's paperwork I have found some old medical records, medical reports he paid to get. They are obviously confidential in nature - some of the content I knew about already but I did learn some new things about the deceased through reading them. There is mention of some family members in the records and the beneficiaries. Mixture of good things and not so good. 
My feeling is that I should probably dispose of them securely - does that sound like the right course of action? Even after death doesn't feel right sharing these things with family members. 

Marcon

CaptainWales said:

Hi. In clearing out the deceased's paperwork I have found some old medical records, medical reports he paid to get. They are obviously confidential in nature - some of the content I knew about already but I did learn some new things about the deceased through reading them. There is mention of some family members in the records and the beneficiaries. Mixture of good things and not so good. 
My feeling is that I should probably dispose of them securely - does that sound like the right course of action? Even after death doesn't feel right sharing these things with family members. 

A shredder or a bonfire is your best course of action. 

Richard1212

Are you the executor?

silvercar

CaptainWales said:

Hi. In clearing out the deceased's paperwork I have found some old medical records, medical reports he paid to get. They are obviously confidential in nature - some of the content I knew about already but I did learn some new things about the deceased through reading them. There is mention of some family members in the records and the beneficiaries. Mixture of good things and not so good. 
My feeling is that I should probably dispose of them securely - does that sound like the right course of action? Even after death doesn't feel right sharing these things with family members. 

Anything that may have implications for descendants should be passed on eg if you find evidence of genetic testing or hereditary illnesses.

Richard1212

I have to ask again before I leave this thread, if you are the executor ? It makes a big difference if you are. If you are not the executor, you should hand over all papers to the executor who should be the one to sort them out anyway ; and then he/she is solely responsible for making a decision as to what to do re any papers, and indeed any possessions.