DENIED A LOVED ONE’S RECORDS? LET ME KNOW

HAVE you had difficulties getting hold of medical records? Recently I learned of a case where the son of a lady who died in a care home was told he couldn’t see his mum’s notes, due to privacy. This seems bonkers. Privacy law set by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) does prohibit businesses and public bodies from sharing any personal information about us they may hold. But it applies only to the living.

The son was trying to find out what happened to his mother, as the circumstances – during the pandemic when visiting was impossible – are not clear. It is important that people can access information like this, to understand what happened to loved ones. It’s also a legal right. The care home seems to be misinterpreting the law in order to block the son’s request, heaping frustration and confusion upon distress.

I’d like to know if anyone else has been told they can’t see the medical records of a loved one who has died. Write to me at the address below – I’d like to investigate.