In short: you have a legal right to a copy of your medical records, and a letter that cites it gets answered. In the EU it is the right of access under GDPR article 15, with a one-month deadline; in the UK the Data Protection Act 2018 (also one month); in the US the HIPAA right of access (30 days). This tool writes the letter for your country from what you type and lets you copy or print it. Once the records arrive, keep them in one place you control: our guide on transferring your medical records explains how.
The right law, cited
GDPR, UK DPA or HIPAA, with the article and the deadline the clinic must meet.
Exactly what you need
Everything, or only lab results, imaging, letters or a period. Digital copy or paper.
Then keep it
Scan the records into Anpheros Daily so the next clinic gets them in minutes, not weeks.
How to use it
- Choose where the clinic is: EU, UK or US.
- Fill in your name, date of birth, the clinic's name and what you need.
- Choose how you want the copy: electronic (PDF, or a standard format), or paper.
- Copy the letter into an e-mail, or print and sign it. Attach a copy of your ID if the clinic asks for identification.
What to expect
- EU: the clinic must answer within one month (extendable by two for complex requests) and the first copy is free. You can ask for a commonly used electronic format.
- UK: one month, free in most cases.
- US: 30 days (one 30-day extension allowed); a reasonable, cost-based fee may apply. You can ask for an electronic copy if the records are electronic.
If the clinic does not answer, the letter already states the deadline; the next step is the data protection authority (EU, UK) or the Office for Civil Rights (US).
Frequently asked questions
Is the letter legally valid?
It is a plain request citing the applicable right; no special form is required in the EU, the UK or the US. Some clinics have their own form and may ask you to use it, which is allowed.
Can I request records for my child or a parent?
For a minor child, yes, as the parent or guardian. For an adult, you need their written authorisation or a legal basis; the letter has a line for that.
How long does it take?
One month in the EU and the UK, 30 days in the US, by law. In practice many clinics answer in one to two weeks.
Can they charge me?
In the EU and the UK the first copy is free. In the US a reasonable fee for copying may apply.
What do I do with the records once I have them?
Keep them in one place you control, so the next doctor gets them without a new request. Anpheros Daily reads scanned reports into values and lets you share them with any clinic.
