Your Medical Records and Your Rights

Even though your doctors maintain your medical records, you have the right to access them at any time—that’s state law. Some consumers are in the habit of keeping their own copies of important blood tests, x-rays and MRIs, but many of us rely on having these results on file in one central place. But what if your doctor moves or retires? What if you switch doctors?

Jennifer Simoes, the California Medical Board’s Chief Information Officer, explains that doctors who close their practices have to make good faith efforts to offer you copies of your medical records. They might send letters and place ads in local papers to inform patients. Know that when you ask for medical records, doctors can charge a reasonable amount for clerical fees and copies of hard and electronic files. Generally, physicians will transfer records to another provider without charging a fee, but some doctors do charge for copying and mailing.