Question regarding patient's rights

[Frederick Garbrecht]

Medical records are confidential, but in general, the physician may
release the contents of a patients records with the patients permission. 
I cannot think of any legitimate reason why a physician would refuse to
release records when the patient has requested their release.  The exact
details of what constitutes 'permission' may vary with local custom,
hospital policy and laws.

F Garbrecht
Medical College of Wisconsin
fgarbrec at post.its.mcw.edu

On 14 Feb 1993 HWONG at ocvaxa.cc.oberlin.edu wrote:

> Date: 14 Feb 1993 22:50:04 -0400 (EDT)
> From:HWONG at ocvaxa.cc.oberlin.edu
> To: bioforum at net.bio.net
> Subject: Question regarding patient's rights
> 
>         I have a question concerning the rights of a patient(and doctor).
> Here is the situation: A teenage male is applying to college. He wishes
> to report his medical condition to the colleges by requesting his doctor to
> write a letter. After visiting his doctor and asking for the note, the
> doctor refused saying that his medical records were "confidential"
> and that disclosing these records might jeopardize his practice. Essentially,
> the doctor is protecting himself by withholding this information. Does the
> doctor have the right to do this?  What is the current policy regarding
> confidentiality? How much access does a patient have over his medical records?
> If anyone knows this information could they send their replies either
> to the list or my address?
> 
>         Also, does anyone know the number of the AMA in which this information *
> be obtained?
> 
> Thanks in advance,
> Brian Wong
> Hwong at ocvaxa.cc.oberlin.edu