Under federal law, every patient or a designated representative has the right to see and copy the patient’s medical records. However, according to USA Today’s Patient Safety website, missing or disputed records are the most common source of complaints about inadequate medical care. Patients often complain that their ability to bring a lawsuit against hospitals or medical providers was hampered by those providers obstructing access to the medical records. When records appear to be incomplete, the patient or family may need an attorney to assist them in obtaining the records. Visit http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-04-29-medical-records_N.htm for more information.
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