Your Own Medical Records

In Florida, a licensed health care practitioner who examines, treats or dispenses legend drugs to a person furnishes, on request of that person or their legal representative, copies of all reports and records relating to the examination or treatment, including X rays and insurance information, in a timely manner and without delays for legal review.

• §Fla. Stat. 456.057

• Furnishing the copies may not be conditioned on payment of a fee for services rendered.
• The practitioner charges no more than the actual cost of copying, including reasonable staff time, or the amount the board sets by rule.
• For psychiatric, psychological or psychotherapy records, the practitioner may provide a report of the examination and treatment instead of copies.
• On the patient's written request, complete psychiatric records go directly to a later treating psychiatrist.
• Without written authorization, records go only to the patient, their legal representative, and practitioners involved in their care, except in the cases the section lists.

• §Fla. Stat. 456.057

The section does not apply to hospitals and other facilities licensed under the hospital chapter, which have their own records rule. Who counts as a records owner, and what happens to records when a practice closes, are in the section and are not reproduced in full here. Whether a refusal was proper is a question for a court and for a licensed Florida attorney.

• §Fla. Stat. 456.057