Medical Records Retention: Laws and Guidelines by Country

Medical records retention laws vary by country, state, and medical specialty. The following are general guidelines:

- United States: Medical records must be retained for at least 7 years from the date of last treatment or 10 years from the date of birth for pediatric records. Some states may have longer retention periods for specific types of medical records.

- Canada: Medical records must be retained for at least 10 years from the date of last treatment or 21 years from the date of birth for pediatric records.

- United Kingdom: Medical records must be retained for at least 8 years from the date of last treatment, or longer if the patient is under the age of 25.

- Australia: Medical records must be retained for at least 7 years from the date of last treatment, or longer if the patient is under the age of 18.

It is important to note that these are just general guidelines. The specific retention period for a given set of medical records may depend on the specialty of the physician or healthcare organization, the type of medical record, and any applicable laws or regulations.