Is it possible to see medical records from the day you were born?

Question

I have my birth cert but I was wondering what type of other medical records are made at the time of your birth and is there any way to access them? I'm sure it depends on what country you were in, how long ago you were born (23 years) etc. but if anyone has a basic idea?

Answer 1

If you live in the UK :-

To find out how you can access your medical records :-

Your doctor's surgery holds your medical records while a hospital holds records of any treatment you have had there. You have the right to view these under the Data Protection Act 1998. You can simply ask your GP, surgery staff or health authority, if you can inspect your medical records. Check with them, but there is usually a charge and you may be asked for proof of identity.

However, it is recommended that you apply for access in writing by sending a letter by recorded delivery, including any payment and the required proof of identity. You should receive a response no later than 21 days after your application was received, although by law (according to the Data Protection Act) the hospital or surgery has 40 days to respond to a request in writing.

If the records are held at a hospital, you should address the letter to your hospital Patients Services Manager or Medical Records Officer.

Your records, when presented to you, should be in a format that you understand.

If you are denied access you can approach the Information Commissioner's Office if you think the organisation has breached the Data Protection Act.

Individuals are entitled to apply for access to their total health record as it stands at the time the request was received. The information provided may, however take account of any amendment or deletion which is made to the record in the period between the request having been received and dealt with, being an amendment or deletion that would have been made regardless of the receipt of the request.

Answer 2

Here in the UK you can ask for permission to see one entry in your own medical records, this request has to be put in writing to the manager of the health centre / doctors surgery. You can't  see the entire record, only specific items.

Answer 3

If you are in the U. S., check the Medical  Records Department at the hospital to see if they are available and what you need to do to get a copy.  Of course, a lot of the information would be on your mother's medical records and you would need her signature for those.

I had an injury in 1939 and was treated at Hotel Dieu in Beaumont, Texas.  In the mid to late 1980s after Hotel Dieu had been closed, St. Elizabeth Hospital had the medical records of my injury and treatment on microfilm.  

If a hospital was owned by a religious order and is no longer in operation, another hospital of that order might have the records but you will never know until you check.

Answer 4

Your best bet may be to call the hospital and see how far back their records go. Records are usually archived after a certain amount of time.  23 year old records could possibly be on microfiche.  

It depends on how long they are required to keep records.