This script explains who owns medical records and the information in them, how to see your own medical records, and who else can see them.

Many people think that their medical records are their own property, and that if they want to see them, they just have to ask. That’s only partly true. Your medical records actually belong to the doctor, hospital, or other facility place that made them, not to you. That’s also the case with true for dental records and nursing home records. But the information in the medical records belongs to you, and . And normally, you have a right to see that information. The records should include any treatment or procedure that went wrong because courts have said that doctors have a legal duty to give patients that type of information.

To see the your medical records kept by your doctor has on you, just ask the doctor to see them. Your doctor has a privacy officer—usually the doctor—who will doctor—to deal with your the request. Under the BC ''[http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03063_01 Personal Information Protection Act]'', you have a right to see the information. And the doctor will normally show you the records or give you the information in them. You can also ask for a copy of your records, but the doctor may charge you a fee (set by the BC [https://www.doctorsofbc.ca/ Medical Association] in its [https://www.doctorsofbc.ca/sites/default/files/public_uninsured_services_2015apr01.pdf fee guide]) to copy them because medical insurance does not pay for this. You could also ask to take a picture of the records with your phone—this option is quite new so doctors may not have a position on it yet.

'''Accuracy and privacy'''—the law requires doctors Doctors have to make sure the information in your keep medical records is accurate and to keep it private. If you think for at least 16 years from the doctor made a mistake in your medical records, you can ask him or her to make a new last entry in the record about your concern. The doctor has to make a note of your request. But once medical information is recorded, it is not supposed to be destroyed or changed based on a patient’s requestfrom when the patient reaches the age of majority (19 years old in BC)—whichever comes later.

Rarely'''Accuracy and privacy of doctor records'''—the College requires all doctors to keep and securely store accurate records for every patient, a doctor may refuse with the date and type of every service provided to them. And the ''[http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03063_01 Personal Information Protection Act]'' requires doctors to give you make sure the information in your medical record, thinking that records is accurate and to keep it could cause immediate or grave harm to your safety or to your physical or mental healthprivate. If that happens, and you can’t solve think the problem with doctor made a mistake in your doctormedical records, contact the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BCyou can ask them to fix it. The College’s Complaints Department may be able doctor has to help youmake a note of your request. The College phone number But once medical information is 604.733.7758 in Vancouver and 1.800.461.3008 elsewhere in BC. Its website recorded, it is [http://www.cpsbc.ca www.cpsbc.ca]not supposed to be destroyed or changed based on a patient’s request.

Rarely, a doctor may refuse to give you the information in your medical record, thinking that it could cause immediate or grave harm to your safety or to your physical or mental health. If that happens, and you still can’t solve the problemwith your doctor, contact the Information and Privacy Commissioner for BC. The Commissioner’s phone number in Victoria is 250.387.5629. The website is [http://www.oipc.bccpsbc.ca www.oipc.bc.ca]] / College of Physicians and the email address is [mailto:info@oipc.bc.ca info@oipc.bc.caSurgeons of BC]. Outside of Victoria, call Enquiry BC and ask for the Office of the Information and Privacy CommissionerThe College’s Complaints Department may be able to help you. To reach Enquiry BC, call The College phone number is 604.660733.2421 7758 in the lower mainland Vancouver and 1.800.663461.7867 3008 elsewhere in BC.

LastlyIf you still can’t solve the problem, you can see a lawyer contact the [http://www.oipc.bc.ca/ Information & Privacy Commissioner for BC]. The Commissioner’s phone number in Victoria is 250.387.5629 and the email is [mailto:info@oipc.bc.ca info@oipc.bc.ca]. Outside of Victoria, call Enquiry BC and ask for legal advice on what to dothe Office of the Information & Privacy Commissioner. To reach Enquiry BC, call 604.660.2421 in the lower mainland and 1.800.663.7867 elsewhere in BC.

==Medical records that a hospital keeps==To see your hospital records, contact the medical or health records department of the hospital and ask for their information and privacy office or the person in charge of giving out information. If you make a written request, the hospital has 30 days to respond. UsuallyLastly, you can see your hospital records and get a copy. The ''Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act'' covers hospital records. Check script [[Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (Script 235)|235]], called “Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy”, lawyer for more legal advice on this lawwhat to do.

==Medical records that hospitals and other public entities keep==To see your hospital records, contact the medical or health records department of the hospital and ask for their information and privacy office or the person in charge of giving out information. If you make a written request, the hospital has 30 days to respond. Usually, you can see your hospital records and get a copy. The ''[http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96165_00 Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act]'' covers records kept by hospitals and other public entities. Check script [[Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (Script 235)|235]], called “Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy” for more on this law.  '''Accuracy and privacy—the law privacy of hospital records'''—the ''[http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96165_00 Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act]'' requires hospitals to make sure the information in your medical records is accurate and to keep it private. The This law also gives you the right to ask the hospital to correct any errors or omissions in your records. The hospital has to make a note of your request. But once medical information is recorded, it is not supposed to be destroyed or changed based on a patient’s request. Hospitals have to keep most medical records for at least 10 years (and some for 6 years) under the ''[http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/121_97#section14 Hospital Act Regulation]''.

Lastly, you can see a lawyer for legal advice on what to do.

==''Are your medical records confidential?==''Yes, in most cases your medical records are normally confidential. Doctors and hospitals must not give them to anyone else, except in certain cases:#Other people who give you medical care, such as specialists, will need your medical records.#If you’re in a lawsuit about your medical history, your lawyer will need your medical records. Usually, doctors and hospitals will copy your medical records to your lawyer if you ask them to.#A court can order your medical records be shown to other people and lawyers in a lawsuit.#If you apply for life or health insurance, the insurance company will often need your medical records before giving you insurance.#Some types of jobs may require medical information. However, potential employers can get your records only if you agree to let them see the records.

[http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03063_01#section18 Section 18 ] of the ''[http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03063_01 Personal Information Protection Act]'', which applies to doctors, lists other reasons for giving out personal information—some of them could apply to medical records. [http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/LOC/complete/statreg/-- F --/Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act %5bRSBC 1996%5d c. 165/00_Act/96165_03.xml#section33 Section 33 ] of the ''[http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96165_00 Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act]'', which applies to hospitals, lists other reasons for giving out personal information—some of them could apply to medical records. Both laws are on the following website: [http://www.bclaws.ca www.bclaws.ca].

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[updated April 2014March 2016]