As a patient, you have the right to access your medical records. This means that you have the right to see the record and, if necessary, get a copy of it.
Your medical record contains all important information about the reason for contact, diagnosis, course of illness, medication prescriptions and examination results/operations. Information about and consent to treatment must also be included in the medical record.
The right to view your medical record only applies if it was written after January 1, 1994. However, you can view hospital records for records written after January 1, 1987.
How to request access to documents
If you want access to your medical records, you must request it from the relevant department or healthcare professional. It is the authority, institution or healthcare professional who has the medical record who decides whether to grant access.
You should be aware that when you have requested access to your jounal at a hospital, this should be understood as a request for access to the medical record.
If you want access to the nursing records, you must specifically request this.
If you have requested access to your medical records, your request must be answered within 10 days of your request. This does not mean that you are entitled to access within 10 days, but that you must be notified within 10 days of when you can expect to receive access.
For records in the medical record prior to January 1, 2010, the right of access may be restricted if it is necessary for your or other people's vital interests. A refusal must be given in writing and the refusal must be justified.
An appeal against a refusal of access can be sent to the Danish Patient Safety Authority.
Power of attorney
As a patient, you can authorize another person to obtain medical records.
Specifically for persons under 18 years of age
If you are over 15 years old, you have the right to access your medical records yourself, unless your doctor deems you are not mature enough to do so.
If you are under the age of 15, the person(s) with parental authority has the right to access your medical records on your behalf if it is necessary to protect your interests.
As a general rule, the person(s) with parental authority may access your medical records when you are under the age of 18. Access can be restricted for the custodial parent(s) if there are crucial considerations for you or others. Examples include cases where the medical record contains information about the use of contraception, abortion procedures or treatment of STDs without the parents' knowledge.
The non-custodial parent has the right to be informed about the child's conditions by the health care system, private hospitals and private practitioners.
An authority is only obliged to disclose information about the child if there is a specific request for information from a parent who does not share custody. Thus, there is no obligation to provide information on an ongoing basis, and a request for general information does not have to be met.
Information may be refused if it is likely to be detrimental to the child.
Confidential information about the custodial parent(s) must not be given, even in cases where it seems natural in connection with the information about the child's circumstances.
Where can I read more?
- Danish Health Act, Act no. 913 of 13.7.2010§§ 15-16 Informed consent and participation in decisions
§ 17 Minors
§ Section 18 Patients who permanently lack the ability to give informed consent
§ Section 19 Immediate need for treatment
§ 20 Patient involvement
§§ Sections 22-25 Self-determination in special cases - Executive Order no. 665 of September 14, 1998 on information and consent and on the disclosure of health information, etc.
- Service Act § 63, Act no. 941 of 1.10.2009
