📝 The Issue
Doctors often issue certificates, discharge summaries, or medical records based on oral requests from patients, relatives, police, or other authorities. The common mistake is not taking a written request letter.
⚠️ Legal Risk
If a document is issued without a written request, the patient may later claim that their medical information was released without consent. Medical councils and courts take such privacy breaches seriously and may hold the doctor responsible.
📌 Legal Protection
• Take a written request letter for every medical document you issue.
• If the patient is requesting, their signature serves as consent.
• If a third party is requesting, ensure the patient also signs the request letter.
• Never issue any medical document based only on an oral request.
📚 Medicolegal Advice
Courts have repeatedly held that releasing medical information without documented consent amounts to breach of confidentiality and professional misconduct.
A simple written request letter protects you legally and ensures patient privacy is respected.
Regards ,
Dr. Vinaykumar S
MBBS, DCH, DNB, LLB, PGDMLE (National Law School)
Professor of Paediatrics, Medico legal educator, Founder of MedicoLegalAid

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