Patient medical records belong to the attending physician or health-care institution in which the record was compiled.

Doctors are required by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia, the licensing and regulatory body of physicians in the province, to keep patients’ original medical records for up to 10 years. In most instances, patients have the right to review their records and to obtain a copy (including consultations and other reports). However, patients’ rights to their medical record aren’t absolute.

The process to access the records may vary depending on the doctor. Patients are encouraged to contact their doctor’s office directly and ask about the process.

Fee for transferring patient records

The service of transferring or copying a patient’s medical record is a non-insured service, which means a doctor may charge the patient a fee for providing this service.

The fee is determined by each individual doctor.

If the physician’s office has closed, the doctor is deceased, or a patient has questions about obtaining a medical record, contact:

Doctors Nova Scotia
(902) 468-1866