Do I Have The Right To Records Of 16 Yrs From My Long-time Treating Dr?

My dr treating me for 16 yrs. was closed down by DEA over 1yr ago. Since I've had no pain relief. I need my records of treatment & testing before the 16 yrs of treatment but my long-time treating dr (from Philadelphia, Pa.) refused to even reply to my request for records sent to him pre-treatment. I need more than medication from pharmacy to get proper treatment for chronic pain in several parts of my 60 yr old body. Do I have a legal right to my records of failed treatment & testing from 16 yr of treatment dr.???

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You always have a legal right to your medical records, as long as that doctor is still in that same practice and has them, according to AMA directives.

However, you can't just request them, individuals have to pay for them. There is usually a set free of anywhere from $20 to $30 for the first so many pages, after that, you are charged per page.

However, if another physician requests them, there is no charge, so it might be easier to have a new doctor request them for you.

It should be noted, however, that if you left their practice and moved to a different doctor, if the records were transferred then to the new doctor, the originating office might have destroyed them, thinking they were no longer needed. There are certain instances where they are allowed to do so. They might also be filed far away in some secure archive somewhere, which might take some time for them to access.

As an example, schools are required to keep a student's records for a certain period of time, it used to be 100years, but I am not sure if it still the same, or if might change from state to state. But, I do know that in Pennsylvania, where I grew up, if the school was closing, they could destroy them sooner, but only after offering you the chance to purchase a copy.

In other words, no given entity is required to keep your records indefinitely, though with modern technology, some places don't worry about it, since copies can be stored digitally, so they no longer take up a ton of space.

The best thing to do, if that doctor is still in practice, is to call them and ask, if they still have a copy and what is required for you, or a new doctor to obtain them.

Is there anything else I can help with?

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Re: Verwon (# 1)

My only treating dr of 17 yrs small Phila. Practice had been closed by DEA in 2016. I’ve called Office & written to Same & even his home but I’ve gotten no reply. I can’t find a dr to treat me without re trying all failed treatments which include surgeries ,physical therapy injections Tens anti inflammatory drugs & much more. Please any help would be appreciated?

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