Patients have the legal right to obtain copies of their medical records in most states.
To find out about the laws where you live, contact your state's medical society. If you wish to obtain copies of your medical records, contact the medical records department at your clinic or hospital and ask about their specific procedures. Clinics or hospitals often provide release forms to be signed by the patient or closest relative if the patient is incapable of doing so. Some hospital medical record departments allow patients to come in and review their own records before deciding if they want copies of all or a portion of them. Expect to pay a copying fee when obtaining records from a hospital or clinic.