Hospitals Destroy Medical Records

7 Years after patient discharge

Minor patients: (Under 19):

7 Years after discharge or 21,

whichever is longer.

Minor patients: 6 years after the last date of services, or until patient reaches the age of 21.

6 years after the last date of services.

Minor patients: 

6 years after the last date of services, or 21

whichever is longer.

10 years after the last discharge,

but master patient index data must

be kept permanently.

Minor patients: 

2 years after majority

 7 years after discharge.

Minor patients:

 7 years after discharge or

1 year after the patient reaches 18

10 years after the most recent

patient care usage.

Minor patients: 10 years after the patient

reaches the age of majority

(i.e., until patient turns 28).

Minor patients: 3 years after last seeing the patient or 3 years after patient reaches the age of 18

5 years after the date of

discharge.

Minor patients: 

5 years after majority

(i.e., until patient turns 23).

Minor patients: Full medical records: 7 years after the patient reaches the age of majority (i.e., until patient turns 25). Basic information: 25 years after the minor reaches the age of majority.

7 years after last data entry.

Basic information: 25 years

after the last record entry.

Minor patients: Full medical records:

7 years after the minor reaches  majority

(i.e., until patient turns 25).

Basic information: 25 years after the minor

reaches majority (i.e., until patient turns 43).

5 years after the date of the test.

Minor patients: 1 year after the minor attains the age of majority (i.e., until patient turns 19).

Full records: 10 years after the last discharge of

the patient.

Minor patients: 

Full records: 10 years or 1 year beyond the date

that the patient reaches majority.

 5 years from date of discharge.

Minor patients: 

5 years from date of discharge or 3 years after

the patient reaches majority.

Minor patients: 6 years past majority.

Patient logs and written x-ray reports—

permanently.

Minor patients: 5 years after the report or record was made or until the patient reaches the age of majority plus 3 years.

5 years after the record or report was made.

Minor patients:

 5 years after the report or record was made or until the patient reaches

the age of majority plus 3 years.

Minor patients: 7 years from date of last patient encounter or until the patient reaches the age of 9.

the patient.

discharge or last treatment.

Adult patients: 7 years.

Minor patients: 7 years following majority.

Discharged in sound mind: 10 years. Discharged at death: 7 years.(2)

Minor patients: 

For the period of minority plus 7 years.(3)

Minor patients: 

10 years or until patient’s 23rd birthday, whichever occurs later.

10 years following the date of a patient’s discharge

or death.

Minor patients: Entire medical record—

10 years following the date the patient either

attains the age of majority (i.e., until patient is 28)

or dies, whichever is earlier.

Core medical record must be maintained at least

an additional 10 years beyond the

periods provided above.

10 years following a patient’s discharge.

Minor patients:
(under 19) 10 years or until 3 years after the patient reaches majority

(i.e., until patient turns 22), whichever is longer.

record.

Minor patients: 7 years or until the minor

reaches age 19, whichever is longer.

10 years following the most recent discharge.

Minor patients: 

10 years following the most recent discharge or

until the patient is 23, whichever is longer.

Discharge summary sheets (all) 20 years after

discharge.

Minor patients: 2 years beyond the date the patient is 18 (i.e., until the patient turns 20).

10 years following the last treatment date of the patient.

Minor patients: 

Age of majority plus 1 year (i.e., until the patient turns 19).

Minor patients: 6 years and until 1 year after the minor reaches the age of 18 (i.e., until the patient turns 19). N.Y. Education § 6530 (2008) (providing retention requirements in the definitions for professional misconduct of physicians).

6 years from the date of discharge.

Minor patients: 

6 years from the date of discharge or 3 years

after 18 years (i.e., until patient turns 21)

whichever is longer.

Deceased patients – At least 6 years after death.

Minor patients: 

Until the patient’s 30th birthday.

10 years after the last treatment date.

Minor patients: 

10 years after the last treatment date or until the

patient’s 21st birthday, whichever is later.

patient was last seen.

Minor patients: 3 years past majority

(i.e., until the patient turns 21).

Deceased patients 3 years beyond the date of death.

Minor patients: 7 years following the date of the last medical service or 1 year after the patient reaches age 21 (i.e., until patient turns 22), whichever is the longer period.

Minor patients: 

7 years after the patient attains majority(5) or

as long as adult records would be maintained.

Minor patients: 5 years after patient reaches

the age of 18 years (i.e., until patient turns 23).

Minor patients: 13 yearsfrom the date of last treatment.

Minor patients: Until the minor reaches 18 and

the “period of election; expires, which is usually

1 year after the minor reaches the age of majority

(i.e., usually until patient turns 19).

10 years from the actual visit date of service or resident care.

Minor patients:

 10 years from the actual visit date of service or

resident care or until the minor reaches age of majority plus 2 years (i.e., until patient turns 20),whichever is later.

Minor patients: 10 years from the provider’s last professional contact with the patient or 1 year after the minor reaches the age of majority (i.e., until patient turns 19), whichever is later.

10 years following the discharge  or death

during the patient’s period of treatment within

the hospital.

Minor patients: 

10 years following discharge or for the period

of minority plus at least one year

(i.e., until patient turns 19), whichever is later.

Minor patients: 7 years after the date of the last treatment or until the patient reaches age 21, whichever date is later.

10 years after the patient was last treated in the hospital.

Minor patients: 

10 years after the patient was last treated in

the hospital oruntil the patient reaches age 20,

whichever date is later.

Minor patients: 7 years or until the minor

reaches the age of 18 plus 4 years

(i.e., patient turns 22), whichever is longer.

Minor patients: 6 years after the last patient contact or until the patient reaches age 18 (or becomes emancipated), whichever time period is longer.

discharge.

Minor patients: 5 years after patient

reaches age 18 (i.e., until the patient reaches 23).

10 years following the patient’s most recent

hospital discharge.

Minor patients: 

10 years following the patient’s most recent

hospital discharge or 3 years after the patient

reaches 18 (i.e., until the patient turns 21)

whichever is longer.