Medical records contain important information about a patient’s health status and are important documents that must be kept by healthcare providers. The security and confidentiality of these records are subject to legal regulations for the benefit of both the patient and healthcare professionals.
Legal regulations on the storage of medical records are based on laws on the protection of personal data. For example, the storage of medical records in European Union (EU) countries is regulated by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This regulation sets out general rules and requirements for the processing and storage of personal data.
In Turkey, the storage and confidentiality of medical records are determined by the regulations and other legal regulations published by the Ministry of Health. According to these regulations, the retention of medical records states that patient records should be kept for at least 15 years so that they can be used in a possible judicial process or when necessary. In addition, the security and confidentiality of the records are also specified in the regulations.
Legal regulations on the retention of medical records cover issues such as security, confidentiality, retention period and access control. The security of medical records requires organisations to provide appropriate technological and physical infrastructure to store these records. In addition, confidentiality of records requires healthcare providers to ensure that they protect patients’ personal data and prevent unauthorised access.
As a result, legal regulations on the storage of medical records cover issues such as security, confidentiality, retention period and access control. These regulations ensure the protection of patients’ personal data and regulate the use of medical records. Healthcare institutions are obliged to comply with legal regulations on the storage and confidentiality of medical records.