Requests for Records

Requests for Medical & Psychiatric Records

Often a decedent’s medical and/or psychiatric records provide information which contributes significantly to the determination of cause and manner of death. The Ohio Revised Code grants the coroner the right to obtain these records. Importantly, the code also states that any medial or psychiatric record that is provided is not a public record.

ORC 313.091

• Effective Date: September 5, 2001

In connection with the performance of duties under this chapter, a coroner, deputy coroner, or representative of a coroner or deputy coroner may request, in writing, to inspect and receive a copy of the deceased person’s medical and psychiatric records. The person to whom the request is delivered shall make such records in the person’s custody available during normal business hours to the coroner, deputy coroner, or representative for purposes of inspection and copying.

A person who provides copies of medical or psychiatric records pursuant to a request made under this section may request, in writing, reimbursement in a specified amount for the necessary and reasonable costs of copying the records, in which case the coroner, deputy coroner, or representative shall remit that amount to the person upon receipt of the copies.

Any medical or psychiatric record provided to a coroner, deputy coroner, or representative of a coroner or deputy coroner under this section is not a public record subject to section 149.43 of the Revised Code. The release of a deceased person’s medical or psychiatric records to a coroner, deputy coroner, or representative of a coroner or deputy coroner in accordance with this section does not violate division (B)(4) of section 4731.22 or section 5122.31 of the Revised Code.

As used in this section and section 313.10 of the Revised Code, "medical record" has the same meaning as in division (A)(3) of section 149.43 of the Revised Code.