A

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Hi all, I have been accepted to medical school and I would like to know

1. Do medical schools ask incoming students to release their personal medical records to them
2. If so, why?
3. If the student refuses is that cause for dismissal.

Thank you very much

IIRC the only records I was asked to give were vaccination records. I can't imagine a scenario where a school would obtain/ask for medical records. Maybe if you asked for some kind of accommodation but I'm not sure of the process for that.
 
Thanks for the responses. The school I was accepted to is asking for full medical records. I think that's incredibly invasive and unnecessary.

I understand if they want to make sure students don't have schitzophrenia or addiction, but it doesn't seem right to demand everything.
 
Last edited:
do they actually want full medical records or just like a form signed by a doctor saying your health is good enough for med school?

Definitely a HIPAA violation.

just asking for medical records isn't a HIPAA violation, that's not how HIPAA works. But it seems really gross and unnecessary, most schools/jobs I've had to send health info to mainly want to know about vaccinations and that you meet their technical standards
 
All my school wanted was:

1. Vaccination records
2. Recent physical within a few months of starting school

Any more is none of their business.
 
Thanks for the responses. The school I was accepted to is asking for full medical records. I think that's incredibly invasive and unnecessary.

I understand if they want to make sure students don't have schitzofrenia or addiction, but it doesn't seem right to demand everything.
Full medical records? What they want pediatric records too, lol? I don't even know how I would get that if someone asked for that.
 
All my school asked for was vaccination records, TB test, titers & a signed physical form. If you were asking for accommodation for something they would need documentation of that as well (ex: spinal surgery exception from certain OMM techniques), but not complete records. Is this a US school?
 
HIPAA only applies in the US and releasing your own records is not a HIPAA violation. It's more likely to be an ADA violation if your medical history could be used to discriminate against you.
That being said, I suspect the OP was accepted to a school in another country and thus US standards do not apply to their situation.
 
HIPAA only applies in the US and releasing your own records is not a HIPAA violation. It's more likely to be an ADA violation if your medical history could be used to discriminate against you.
That being said, I suspect the OP was accepted to a school in another country and thus US standards do not apply to their situation.
Hi, you are very observant. It is a bit more complicated than that though. I was accepted to a US program in collaboration with another institution and the location is indeed not in the US. Perhaps this is what is done in other countries.

Again, I really appreciate all the responses. Thank you.
 
Hi, you are very observant. It is a bit more complicated than that though. I was accepted to a US program in collaboration with another institution and the location is indeed not in the US. Perhaps this is what is done in other countries.

Again, I really appreciate all the responses. Thank you.
You should really ask for clarification about what they’re trying to glean. Like someone else said, with having been to different doctors and offices my whole life for random stuff, I’m not sure how I’d ever be able to get “full medical records” if someone asked. I’d have to track down every ped clinic and Urgent Care I went into for a stuffy nose which is just ridiculous. Perhaps if you see a PCP for a physical and tell the PCP your medical hx to which they will document, this will suffice. Then honestly, you could leave out something with the PCP if you’re uncomfortable sharing with the school.
 
Top