As a loving parent, there may be times when you wish to see your child's medical records. There are two different scenarios as to when this might occur:
- If you are separated from the mother/father of your child and are not aware of their full medical information but would like to be; or
- You believe that your child has been seen by a doctor without you being present and you are worried for their health and well being.
Do Parents Have the Right to See Their Children's Medical Records?
If your child is under the age of sixteen then you may be able to see your child's medical records. Firstly, you must have Parental Responsibility for your child. If so, you can apply to a health professional for information and they must provide it. If you wish to see a GP or other medical practitioner, they are obligated to see you and to discuss matters relating to your child's health. If you contact the medical practice and are having difficulty with access, then it is best to put your request in writing.
Do You Have Parental Responsibility?
If you are the birth mother of your child, then you naturally have Parental Responsibility. If you are a father, however, you may not have Parental Responsibility. You may have it if you were married to the mother of the child at the time of the birth or through one of the following:
- The mother has agreed that you have Parental Responsibility;
- You have been granted a Parental Responsibility Order by the Courts; or
- You jointly registered the birth of your child with the mother (after 01 December 2003).
Check your legal rights as a parent on education, health and welfare decisions.
Try our Parental Rights Checker free, here on this site →Can You Be Refused Information?
The answer is yes. If it is considered in their best interests to share information with you and if the child is considered too young to understand your application, then the health professional will usually share information. They can only pass information on to you if they have your child's consent.
If, therefore, you child is a teenager and they have asked the doctor something that they wish to be treated in confidence, then you will not be informed upon request. There are teenagers who wish to talk to their doctors about matters concerning them such as birth control, without their parents knowing.
They may also refuse information if they believe that their patient will suffer serious harm to their physical or mental well being or to any other individual. Other scenarios may include where your child's information contains further information about another individual and upon revealing your child's information, the other individual's right to confidentiality could be trespassed.
How Should You Approach a Health Professional for Information?
If you try to contact you GP or any other health professional and are unsuccessful, then the best way to make a formal request is to put it in writing. If you include a copy of your Parental Responsibility Order or marriage certificate, or your child's birth certificate with your name on it (after 01 December 2003 if you are named as the father), then this might speed up the process. If you do not include this, then you may be asked to provide it at a later date.
Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.
What Can You Do If Your Request Is Refused?
As detailed above, there may actually be a really good reason as to why your request for information has been refused, though perhaps, as a concerned parent or guardian, you may not agree. If you are really concerned, you should ask the professional how you can make a complaint.
The first person to complain to is the General Practice Manager. If this does not work, then you may wish to apply to the Information Commissioner or to the Integrated Care Board, if you wish to access records, which have been refused.
What About If You Do Not Know Who Your Child's Doctor Is?
If you are unable to find out who your child's doctor is, for example, their other parent has not told you, then you can contact the Integrated Care Board (the board covering the area in which your child resides) to ask for the details.
You must make a request in writing, again making sure that you include proof of your Parental Responsibility.
In summary, it is understandable that as a worried parent, you want to know all about your child's life. For younger children, it is important for you to be highly involved in their health. It is important, however, to remember that a health professional has an overall duty to do what is in the best interests of their patient and sometimes that means keeping their information confidential.
Thank you
My concerns are; in many decisions regarding children, including medical situations, whilst I get informed of situations and outcomes, it’s usually well after event, or after a decision has been made and there’s been little discussion.
I discovered this year that the eldest had been self harming. When I became aware, I discovered that not only had this been going on for a number of months, the mother had been deliberately keeping this information from me including persuading my eldest that it was best I didn’t know. I messaged the mother to discuss situation and asked when situation started, who was aware and what treatment or support had been taking place.
All I got in response was that school was aware but not GP and no dates regarding how long it has been happening or why the GP had not been notified. When I push I get accused of not trusting her along with, “this isn’t helping our child”.
Now my youngest is undergoing assessment for ADHD. Something I suggested 2 years ago and was told that I wasn’t a medical professional and should stop making sensational assumptions. The initial assessment indicates he has a level of ADHD but the mother won’t give me any official reports or inform me of appointments. She’s controlling the situation and not consulting prior to any decisions around strategies, support or available treatment. When she informs me of updates, if I ask questions or challenge anything she shuts me down as being awkward, not acting in best interests of children etc.
In this instance i feel that the strategy she is following, whilst not malicious, might not be in best interests of child. How do I get included in debate with the healthcare professionals independently?
My daughter is 16 years old and shy. She likes to leave all the job with her medical issues on me. I asked gp about the medical report. But they told me that I need a consent to discuss my daughter health. Don't I have a parental responsibility until 18? In hospital told me that I don't need any consent from my daughter as she is still under age. What is the right procedure?
Thank you.
I have also asked for his GP address and she refused citing the above.
I believe neither parent has exclusive right on the child and I have as much right to his medical record as she does.
I will want to be present at my son's medical appointment and want to have detailed knowledge of his medical history till date, considering be has been to the hospital quite often recently.
How do I approach this please?
My daughters live with me and see their father every other week end. Is there any action I can take against them both for allowing this to happen?
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