how do I get access on line to my deceased mother’s medical records?
I am sure if you are her next of kin you have a right to access her actual notes. However even if your mother’s GP practice was paperless and the notes are fully computerised,( this is at present only a few percent of practices) , they will not of course be on the Internet. You will thus not be able to access them this way. There are plans to use massive central computers to store patient records in the future, but even when this happens they will only be available on the NHS Intranet, which cannot be accessed from outside.
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October 6th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Hi Sandra. I don’t think that you can. I am sure that you have to go through a Solicitor for this kind of data. From personal experience. God Bless and Good Luck. x
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October 6th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
You would have to be the "Power of Attorney" or have a written release from your mother. Contact an attorney about your rights.
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October 6th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
1. Don’t know for sure you could find them online.
2. You would need to have power of attorney and present legal documentation to the hospital, notarized and in writing stating your request.
3. If you don’t have all that, you won’t get access. Right of privacy laws are in effect in some states even for deceased family members.
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October 6th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
It would help if people told us where they are.
Are you in the UK? If so, you can’t, they are confidential records. The next of kin can apply to the Primary Care Trust that holds them for copies. You will have to pay a nominal fee.
Medical records are covered by the Data Protection Act.
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Work in the NHS.
October 6th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
difficult – how long has she been dead? would she want you to see them?
go see a solicitor or if you are in the uk the CAB
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October 6th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
I am sure if you are her next of kin you have a right to access her actual notes. However even if your mother’s GP practice was paperless and the notes are fully computerised,( this is at present only a few percent of practices) , they will not of course be on the Internet. You will thus not be able to access them this way. There are plans to use massive central computers to store patient records in the future, but even when this happens they will only be available on the NHS Intranet, which cannot be accessed from outside.
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GP for more years than I care to remember
October 6th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
I doubt very much that you can get them online. A good place to start I think, would be for you ring your mother’s GP.
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October 6th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
You can’t but a solicitor could for you if it’s a negligence case and you’re sueing the hopsital. It’s the data protection act that this is covered by. As your mother is deceased she can not give her written permission to you for these to be obtained and you have to pay also. The hospital charge an amount per page if you want to see your own medical records and you have to say that it’s not for pursuing a claim against the hospital.. Hope this helps
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Experience
October 6th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
I am sure you cannot obtain the records on line, but if you are next of kin you are entitled to request copies of all your mother’s medical records and should write to the Medical Records Office of your local NHS Hospital Trust.
They will ask you for a fee for producing these and will quote the ‘data protection’ Act to you. You will have to prove that you have the right to these records and complete a form.
I requested my mother’s records and had to pay £50 before they would send them out. I believe some Trusts only charge around £10, it depends upon how much work and photocopying is involved.
If you write to your mother’s GP, you can normally get the GP records for free.
If a Solicitor is acting for you, they will send you a consent form to sign to enable them to obtain the records on your behalf.
I hope this is helpful.
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Personal experience in obtaining records myself.