blog.cat.rights5 min read10/27/2026

Clinic Refuses to Provide a Medical Record: Who Can Obtain a Copy and What Fees May Be Charged

In Israel, the medical record is kept by the medical institution, but the medical information it contains belongs to the patient. Therefore, a refusal based on the claim that “this is an internal clinic document” does not in itself negate the right to request summaries, test results, and images.

Numbers and facts

•18 — the age for submitting an independent request under the Hillel Yaffe procedure
•1996 — the year the Patient’s Rights Law was enacted
•No. 8/2019 — the circular on access to personal medical data
•2019 — the regulations on the maximum fee cited by the Ministry of Health
•2017 — the year draft fee regulations were published, which does not replace verification of the current rate

What Exactly Can Be Requested

The Patient’s Rights Law, 1996 gives a patient the right to receive medical information from the record relating to them, including a copy of it. Under Ministry of Health Circular No. 8/2019, as a rule, patients must have access to all available information about them, except for exceptions provided by law. A medical record is not limited to a physician’s opinion: Ministry of Health standards include documents, electronic materials, test results, and accompanying materials, including medical images. It is therefore best to list each required item separately in the request: visit history, discharge summary, test results, surgical report, medical opinions, and the actual CT, MRI, or X-ray files.

Who Is Entitled to Receive the Documents

An adult patient may request their own information by presenting an identity card; Hillel Yaffe Hospital expressly specifies an age of 18 or older. Information about a minor may be obtained by either parent with an identity card, or by an appointed guardian with a supporting court document. Documents may be provided to another person with the patient’s written consent and a duly executed waiver of medical confidentiality; Hillel Yaffe’s published procedure requires such a document to be signed in the presence of an attorney. Disclosure is also possible when required by law or when the information is sent to another professional for treatment.

How to Submit a Request Without Unnecessary Correspondence

First, check the online account of the health fund or medical institution: Circular No. 8/2019 requires that information available online be viewable, downloadable, savable, and printable. If the required materials are not available there, send a written request to the clinic’s Medical Records and Information Department, stating your full name, identity card number, treatment dates, and an exact list of the documents requested. For imaging, clarify whether you need only the radiologist’s reports or also the original images. Under Ministry of Health standards, a request for the transfer of information must be documented together with the date, method of identification, and applicant’s details—so retain proof of submission.

How Much a Copy May Cost

Circular No. 8/2019 states that the fee for locating and producing a non-computerized copy of a record or parts of it must comply with the Patient’s Rights Regulations on the Maximum Fee for a Copy of or Access to a Medical Record, 2019. However, the official materials provided do not contain the current amounts in shekels, so no specific rate can responsibly be stated on their basis. The draft regulations published in 2017 should likewise not be treated as a current price list. If the clinic demands payment, request a written calculation specifying what service the fee is charged for, which rate applies, and whether the request concerns a paper copy, digital copy, or storage medium.

What to Do in the Event of Refusal or No Response

Ask the clinic to provide a written response stating the reason for the refusal and its legal basis, especially if an employee merely said orally, “we do not provide records.” Then contact the patient inquiries service of the clinic or health fund, attaching the request, proof of identity, the response, and the receipt if payment has already been collected. An online general inquiry or complaint about service quality may be submitted to the Ministry of Health; this form is not intended for claims concerning the treatment itself, professional ethics, or the basket of health services. The Ministry of Health provides a separate channel for complaints about the conduct of medical professionals.

FAQ

Must a private clinic provide me with a copy of my medical record?

The patient’s right to receive medical information relating to them, including a copy, is formulated in relation to the treating professional and the medical institution. A clinic’s private status does not in itself turn the record into an internal document that is entirely inaccessible to the patient; any exceptions must be based on law.

Can I request CT or MRI images rather than only the report?

Yes. Ministry of Health materials classify images as medical information and accompanying materials of the record. In the request, separately specify the original images and the report, and ask in which digital format or on which storage medium they will be provided.

Can a spouse or relative collect my record?

Kinship alone is not specified as a sufficient basis for providing an adult patient’s record. Written consent and a waiver of medical confidentiality executed in accordance with the institution’s requirements will generally be required.

Is it lawful to demand payment before providing the documents?

The official circular permits a regulated fee for locating and producing a non-computerized copy, but the materials presented do not make it possible to state a specific amount. Ask for an invoice specifying the rate and legal basis before disputing the amount of the payment.

Where can I complain if the clinic ignores the request?

First, send a follow-up written request to the institution’s Medical Information Department and patient inquiries service. You may then contact the Ministry of Health through the general service-quality complaint form; if the matter concerns the conduct of a medical professional, a separate procedure applies.

What to do next

Send the clinic a precise written request, attach the required proof of identity, and list the documents and images separately. If payment is demanded, request the current rate and a calculation; if the request is refused, ask for a written explanation. Retain all correspondence: it will be needed when contacting the health fund or the Ministry of Health.