Connexions Resource Centre - Satellite Offices
Visits by appointment only
Shawville: 530, rue Main, Shawville, Qc, J0X 2Y0
Wakefield: 721, chemin Riverside, Wakefield, QC J0X 3G0
819-557-0615 •

#YouAsked: “I Want to Access my Medical Records. How do I Make a Request?”

As a general rule, your medical records are confidential and only you can see them. No one else can see them without your permission, or the permission of a person allowed to make this kind of decision for you (for example, a parent, tutor or curator).

To access your  medical records, you must show your identification to the health care institution that has the records. To access someone else’s medical records (for example, if you are the parent of a child under 18, you are acting on behalf of a patient, you are an heir, or a family member), you must also show identification. You must give a reason for the request and show how you are connected to the patient.

According to the Commission d’accès à l’information, and with certain exceptions, public health care institutions must:

  • give you access to all the documents they hold in the performance of their duties, regardless of the form of these documents: written, graphic, audio, video or computerized form or other.
  • give you access to your personal information and allow you to obtain rectification of information that is inaccurate or incomplete.

How to Make a Request for Access or Rectification in a Public Health Care Institution

In a public health care institution, the request for access must be in writing and signed by the person who wants the information.

The request for access must be sent to the person in charge of protection of personal information at the institution.  This person’s name and contact information, as well as sample letters, are available from the institution or the Commission d’accès à l’information (access to information commission).

The person in charge must respond to your request for access or rectification within 20 days following its receipt. However, they may extend this time limit by a maximum of 10 days, if necessary.When this time limit expires, the absence of a response by the person in charge is equivalent to a denial.

If the request for access is refused, the person in charge of personal information for the institution must provide a written reason for the refusal and explain that a review of the refusal can be requested.

If the request for access is allowed, the patient or other person can consult the medical records for free. However the institution can charge reasonable fees for transcription, sending and copies of all or part of the record.

How to Make a Request for Access or Rectification in a Private Clinic

In a private clinic, the same rules apply as in a public institution.

The doctor has 30 days to answer a request for access to a medical record.

Detailed Resources about Access to Information (and sources used for this article):

Éducaloi:  Medical Records, Medical Records: Getting Information Corrected, Medical Records: How to Get Access; Medical Records: When Access Can Be Refused, Medical Records: Who Can Have Access, Medical Records: Solutions When Access Is Refused

Commission d’accès à l’information: Access to Information, Protection of Personal Information: What are Your Rights?  How to Make a Request?