After a person dies...

[MaryAnnDVC]

...what happens to the medical records at the Dr's office? Are they destroyed? Are they archived, and if so, for how long? And then destroyed?

 

[snoopy]

I just ran across my mother's doctor records the other day. I'm not sure how I got them, but I think my brother specifically asked for them.

Perhaps someone who works in a doctor's office can tell you what standard procedure is. I'd like to know the answer to this question as well.

 

[Maleficent13]

In my state, we are legally required to keep medical records 10 years from the last visit. After that, they can be destroyed.

I have absolutely no idea if this is a state law or federal. In TN, we only had to keep them 7 years, but that was almost 10 years ago, so the law may have changed.

 

[froglady]

It may vary from specialty to specialty, also! Up until the last decade, my FIL's widow was still getting requests from patients he had treated in the 50s and 60s! He was OB/GYN, and back then, DES, which has resulted in problems in the babies that did not show up until ADULTHOOD, was given to prevent miscarriages. She had all of his records until a few years ago, so it may be that you have to keep them until 10 years after the doctor's death in some states.