Chapter 2, Problem 2.17.4C

A request for a patient’s medical record is sent by fax to your office. The fax cover sheet contains the letterhead of a nearby medical facility. You do not recognize the name of the physician, fax number, or telephone number stated for the physician’s office. How do you respond to the request?

If a patient or loved one has made it very clear that they do not want any extraordinary life saving measures and have signed a DNR, do you feel there is any reason for a doctor or family member to ignore it and do whatever it takes to save their life if they can be saved? Please explain your answer.

Yes, I believe the courts should agree with the hospital, because the patients did not sign a consent form to release the medical records, if the patients are the one's complaining about the physician, I'm sure they would have asked them sign a consent form. The hospital should have sent out a letter to the 140 patients stating they were looking into the doctors performance of his surgeries, and ask if they are willing to release their medical records to the courts.