: HOME  |  Privacy Policies  |  Frequently Asked Questions  |  Training

Privacy Forms - HCCs |  Privacy Information - Patients/Pacientes  

   Additional Information  |  Contact Information


YOU ARE HERE : HOME / HIPAA Frequently Asked Questions / DISCLOSURES FAQ 10 b.

Q: Can a family member of a deceased patient obtain the deceased’s medical records if it the records are relevant to the family member’s own plan of care and family history?

A: Yes. Although HIPAA protects the medical information of a deceased patient for 50 years following death, the HIPAA Privacy Rule allows covered entities to disclose a deceased person's PHI to family members and others involved in the person's care or payment for care prior to his or her death, unless doing so is inconsistent with any prior expressed preference of the deceased person that the clinic is aware of.

Information released to these individuals should be limited to the minimum necessary for the purpose at hand, such as determining plan of care. If a complete copy of the patient's record is requested, obtain written Authorization from the executor of the deceased patient’s estate. If there is no executor, the spouse may sign; if there is no spouse, the responsible family member who was involved in the care and treatment of the deceased may sign. (See HIPAA Policy 02, Personal Representatives, Paragraph C.)

 



Return to FAQ List

TOP ^  


The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
OUHSC HOME / SEARCH / FEEDBACK

Office of Compliance
P. O. Box 26901
Oklahoma City, OK 73129
Phone: (405) 271-2511, (866) 836-3150
Fax: (405) 271-1076

    
Copyright © 2014 The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma, All Rights Reserved.
Disclaimer | Copyright