Doctor Resources and Guides
Medical Records and their disposal
Disposal of medical records is the responsibility of a medical practitioner or the personal representative of a deceased medical practitioner.
It would be considered appropriate professional behaviour for a medical practitioner intending to leave a medical practice, to notify established patients directly and/or by letter/email or indirectly by newspaper advertisement and by display of notices at the place of practice. Such notification should provide patients with options on the transfer of care and details of how their medical records may be transferred.
Ideally, all medical records will be disposed of by transfer to the patient or the patient's new medical advisor (with the patient's consent wherever practicable).