Description
The first thing that a disgruntled patients legal adviser is likely to do is to ask for the patients records. The access to the records has been the patients right since November 1991, when the Access to Health Records Act 1990 came into force.
Section 3 of the Act details individuals who can have access to the health records:
1. The patient or a person acting on behalf of the patient (solicitor).
2. Parent or legal guardian can have access to the health records of their children.
3. Courts can appoint person(s) to act on behalf of patients who cannot manage their own affairs – mentally disabled.
4. Personal Representatives dealing with the estate / affairs of a patient after death.
Further, section 6 of the Act allows the correction and/or amendments to the health records of the individuals, where a person considers the information in the records is incorrect.
