Genealogy Chat

Thanks all, I'll see her tomorrow, the written request that her notes are always kept confidential sounds an extremely good idea. Thanks for all your replies, it's appreciated. x

Yes the computerisation thing is very bad. The first time I saw my practice nurse after the introduction of computers in the surgery I was amazed to glance at the screen and see that the previous patients notes were still on the screen.

I am not up to date with this now, but legally the Health Authority keeps records after death for a period of time, in case of litigation. I think Psychiatric notes are kept for even longer.

It may also be relevant that if the person you are talking about has moved around there may be hospital notes related to her in other areas, how long they keep these I don't know, but it must be for some time as at times there is a need for the new health authority to request details of history or old conditions/operations from another.

I don't think this will help much, but I would think there may be some difficulty relating to her request.

Something that I am aware of, is a whole procedure related to viewing your own or another persons notes, having to request specific events, and then that person would only see what was pertinant, if it was deemed appropriate for them to see. So for example, a general request to see a parents notes would rarely be allowed. Just to make sure however she should seek legal assistance to make a written application requesting that her notes should not be shown. In a similar way to how living wills are formulated, in this way she would probably achieve peace of mind.

Of course there are always exceptions and for me a worrying development is computerized notes.

Jonesey, thanks. I'll have a word, dont know if it'll make her feel any better tho.

No, I dont think anyone is applying for medical records, she just wants them destroyed on her death.

found this


Accessing someone else's records
If you are applying for medical records on behalf of someone else, you will need their consent or a power of attorney



June x

Im asking on behalf of a lady I know. When she dies it is her wish that her medical records are destroyed, does she have any say over this? I havent the faintest idea about anything like this, but she does not want her children and grandchildren to see her records.