I really doubt they are worried about a law suit. As I said in a previous post, medical office (and vet offices too) are required to keep medical records and tests for a certain period of time.
As far as a law suit goes (which I doubt they are worried about) -- even if this were the case, medical offices routinely release medical records with little or no hesitation. You can't imagine how many times I copy charts to go to lawyers office's. The reason most of our patients are using lawyers is to fight DSHS - Social Security, etc. to get benefits and/or disability payments. BUT - we never know why they want them....we just charge the law offices for the copies and send them on their way....
Again - YES - medical and vet offices have to keep medical records for specified periods of time. And, the vet's office being discussed here needs to keep the one hard copy of the sonographic images they have ---because that is all they have. BUT - again, perhaps some sort of arrangements could be made to have their records copied.
****** It's somewhat funny - because not only is everyone in this country suing everyone else - but everyone is suspecting everyone of suing everyone else.
I can't tell you how many times people here say to "Sue so and so - or I would sue so and so....." This is an unfortunate state of affairs. Because, even I know more often than not most of the things that people here are eager to sue about -- wouldn't even make it to court. But, believe me, lawyers just love people that want to sue other people.... that's how they make their living....
Again - I don't think the vet office being discussed here is worried about being sued at all. I'm sure they have no reason to be... They are required, however, to keep copies of all their medical records. So a copy is what is needed - if that can be arranged.
Good luck - Carol Jean |