Hospital Records - Deceased Relatives

Asitis2019

This is a query

How would I go about getting access to the full hospital records for my deceased father, who died in 1995?


Thank you
asitis2019

simongurnick

Asitis2019 wrote: »

This is a query

How would I go about getting access to the full hospital records for my deceased father, who died in 1995?


Thank you
asitis2019

I think each hospital would have a hospital records department. Have a look on the website or give them a bell

As all medical records are confidential, you may not be entitled to them.

Health professionals are advised to keep records for a minimum of 8 years after last visit, but best practice would be to archive them if possible for longer. 24 years would be unusual if not unlikely.

sekond

The next of kin can request medical records of a deceased person under a Freedom of Information request.

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/legal_matters_and_health/access_to_medical_records.html#l858f1

marieholmfan

You have access to them under freedom of information but unlike your own records the hospital can charge you the cost of retrieval and copying.

As your father died in 1995 the records may no longer exist.

marieholmfan

marieholmfan wrote: »

You have access to them under freedom of information but unlike your own records the hospital can charge you the cost of retrieval and copying.

As your father died in 1995 the records may no longer exist.

Medical facilities will not hand out confidential medical files just because they receive a FOI request from a relative.

randomrb

To get a deceased persons medical records you would have to be their legal per rep and make an application showing the grant of Probate.

28064212

randomrb wrote: »

To get a deceased persons medical records you would have to be their legal per rep and make an application showing the grant of Probate.

Not necessarily: https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/legal_matters_and_health/access_to_medical_records.html

Access to a deceased person's records
Under FOI, access to the personal information of a deceased person may be granted:

• To the personal representative who is administering the estate of the deceased
• To a person who is performing some legal function in relation to the individual or the estate of the individual
• To the spouse (including a divorced spouse or cohabitee) or next of kin or such other person as the head of the public body considers appropriate