Accessing Your Medical Records
By MedXL Editorial Team · Updated 2026-08-26 · 6 min read
Your medical records tell the story of your health: diagnoses, test results, medications, immunizations, and the notes clinicians write about your care. In both the United States and Canada, you have a legal right to see that story. Yet many people have never requested a record, and plenty are surprised by what is involved. This guide explains your rights, the practical steps, and what to do with records once you have them.
In the United States, federal privacy law (HIPAA) gives you the right to inspect and obtain copies of your medical records from doctors, hospitals, and most other providers, with narrow exceptions such as some psychotherapy process notes. Providers must respond within a legally defined time and may charge only a reasonable, cost-based fee for copies. Rules also push health systems to give patients electronic access to their information, which is why test results now often appear in your portal quickly, sometimes before your doctor has discussed them with you.
In Canada, the same basic right exists, grounded in provincial and territorial health privacy laws and long-standing court decisions: the physical record belongs to the custodian (the clinic or hospital), but the information belongs to you, and you are entitled to access it. Fees, response timelines, and procedures vary by province, so check the health privacy office or information commissioner's website for your province when you need specifics.
In this guide
- Know your rights in plain terms
- Start with the patient portal
- Make a formal request when you need the full record
- Read your records actively
- Use records to make your care better
- Mind the privacy side
- Key takeaways