Question 99 · LEK · Access to records

One of the major obligations of the physician is to keep any patient’s data and medical documentation in strict confidentiality. There was a case that after the patient had died in hospital, her adult sister showed up and asked the doctor for the patient’s hospital record to be made available to her. Under these circumstances, the doctor:

1. AA. should refuse the sister access to the record, referring to the principle of medical confidentiality and the legal and ethical obligations to comply.
2. BB. should make it possible for the sister to execute her right of access to the documentation only in terms of review its content.
3. CC. should interview the close members of family of the deceased patient and give access to the record to the person who seems to be most closely related to the patient.
4. DD. should make the patient’s hospital record available to any family member who would request this, provided that the patient had not objected to the above during her lifetime.
5. EE. should not give the sister access to the record but may provide oral information about the cause of the patient’s death.