Boston Injury Attorney Blog

In Massachusetts, by law, patients can obtain copies of their medical records and providers are limited to the amount they can charge for these copies. Generally, a patient will be charged $15.00 for each transaction. In addition, physicians may charge up to $.50 per page for the copying costs of the first 100 pages of medial records, and $.25 per pate in excess of 100 pages.

A physician must maintain patient medical records for seven years from the date of the last patient contact. After seven years, a physician can give his/her former patient their original medical records back or destroy them. It is wise to request a copy of your medical records when changing physicians.

The Board of Registration in Medicine requires that a physician maintain the original to ensure that a patient's medical history will be available to assist any future health care provider.

A physician must provide copies of a medical record in a timely manner. Two to three weeks is considered "reasonable".

If the patient is deceased, the executor or administrator of the Estate may obtain copies.

The provider may summarize mental Health records if the physician believes the information would be harmful.

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REPORT AND RECORD THE ACCIDENT

1. First attend to your medical needs if you are injured.

2. Report the accident to the proper authorities If the accident involved in a truck, motorcycle or car, be sure to call the police to file an accident report. Do not discuss fault. Call your insurance company. If you were the victim of a slip and fall, contact the management of the building, company or facility where you fell as soon as possible..

3. Take photographs of the accident scene and your injuries. Be sure to record accident details such as what happened immediately before, during and after the accident. Make a notation of the weather, road or surface conditions. If your vehicle was damaged, try to obtain pictures before you get it repaired or go to the repair shop or dealer where it was towed.

4. Get witness names. Be sure to collect the names, addresses and telephone numbers of any witnesses.

5. Save your medical bills. Keep track of the names, addresses and telephone numbers of all medical providers and dates of treatment.

6. Keep a record of your lost wages, along with the name and address of your employer.

7. Be sure to protect your rights, by contacting a competent attorney.

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Massachusetts Parents beware! Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 138, Section 34: Delivery of Alcohol Beverages to Person Under 21 (as amended by Chapter 175 of the Acts of 2000) makes it unlawful for a person to furnish alcohol to a minor. Furnish is defined as providing alcohol to a minor except on one's own property to one's own grandchildren.

A person may be charged with violating the social host law if he or she allows a person who is under 21 to possess alcohol while on property owned or controlled by him. The statute was passed to address the issue of teenage alcohol parties being held with the full knowledge of parents.

The focus of the law is to curtail the irresponsible behavior of parents permitting minors to drink at their homes. In addition, the statute may also be used to charge minors who host alcohol parties. If a minor is left in charge of the home while his parents are away, then he or she is in control of the property. If he or she allows friends who are under 21 to bring alcohol to the home, he or she could be charged under this statute.

The penalty for violating this statute is a fine of $2,000.00 or imprisonment for one year.

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