Access to health records

Question 1

Under the access to health records act 1990 and data protection act 1998:

Answer 1

pts have the right of access to their own health records covering all their medical + dental records written since November 1991 with the following provisors:

Question 2

1.

Answer 2

Only the dentist as the record holder can approve access

Question 3

2.

Answer 3

the pts request must be made in writing + there may be a fee to cover administration costs (usually around £10)

Question 4

3.

Answer 4

Dentists must respond within 40 days of fee payment + the pts identity must be checked before releasing their records and released to pt only or their legal representative

Question 5

4.

Answer 5

once viewed, the pt can request that any inaccuracies in their records are amended + any dental terminology, abbreviations or jargon must be explained on request

Question 6

Therefore the dental nurse must not

Answer 6

release any records themselves, or alter them in any way. they must be true, accurate, contemporaneous + contains no derogatory comments.

Question 7

Certain instances where dentist can refuse to disclose records to pt:

Answer 7

when disclosure would cause serious harm to pt

when second person is mentioned by name + has not given consent for disclosure (doesn’t include dental team)

when access to their records after their death has specifically been refused by pt beforehand

Question 8

The freedom of information act excludes

Answer 8

health records as a source of info that can be made available to a person on request. In contract, the access to health records act allows pts or legal reps to gain access to these records, while preventing third parties from doing so