If you are an Executor of the deceased's estate and can provide a copy of the deceased's will. If you are documented in the medical records as being (or can prove you are) the deceased's next-of-kin. Yes but generally only in the following circumstances: You will obtain that information from the medical records department.Ĭan I obtain my deceased relative's medical records? Private hospitals differ in their fees and charges. Public hospitals currently charge $33.00 (including GST) for access to a copy of a "reasonable" size medical record.Īdditional costs are imposed for lengthy documents, eg, admissions to the intensive care unit. Hospitals and practitioners impose fees for retrieval of your records and photocopying expenses. If the Doctor/Hospital fails to respond to your request, then they are taken to have refused you access. 
If you are refused access then you must be provided with a written reason for the refusal and that refusal must be written and provided in accordance with the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002. What does the Doctor/Hospital do when they get my request?Ī Doctor/Hospital must respond to your request within 45 days and advise whether they are going to allow you access or allow or refuse you access to the information. Each facility will have a specific procedure and paperwork that must be completed and followed before access will be granted. Private Hospitals are entitled to make other arrangements for access to Health Information they hold.
Specify how you wish the information to be provided. Identify the medical records you seek (ie, the date/s of admission to hospital or the date of consultation with the doctor). How do I get access to my medical records? No access to your medical records can be given to a third party, eg, insurer/pathologist/other medical practitioner unless you provide your consent. Yes but access can only be obtained with your consent or by Court process (a subpoena). A private practitioner, eg, your GP, owns the medical record.Ĭan anyone else get access to my medical records? Higher fees will generally be charged.Īustralian law says that an individual does not own his/her medical records. Records held by private hospitals, however, are generally more difficult to obtain despite consent or authority from an individual. Your records held by public hospitals are generally available for access by you or your legal practitioner after you have provided written consent or authority and paid the required fee. However, you can challenge a decision by a hospital/doctor who denies you access to your records (see below). If a practitioner or hospital (public or private) decides that it would be harmful to a patient to allow him/her access to their medical records, access can be denied.
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