Free Medical Release Forms

Two Common Types of Free Medical Release Forms

The two types of medical release forms that are in the highest demand are release forms that authorize emergency medical care and release forms that authorize the release of personal medical records.

Authorization of Emergency Medical Care

The first type of release form grants another party permission to authorize emergency medical assistance for oneself or one's dependent. These are typically used for school activities, particularly sports. In fact, virtually any organization that is responsible for the care of a child, such as a daycare center or summer camp, will require a signed medical release form from a parent or guardian that authorizes emergency medical assistance in the event that the child needs it.

If you are organizing a school and youth sports event or activity, it is highly recommended that you require a parent or guardian of each participant to submit a medical release form. The form must be signed by a health care practitioner who has examined the child and verified that the child is fit to safely participate in the sport. Ideally, this form should be submitted before you provide the child with any equipment or allow him or her to participate in the sport.

Authorization of Release of Medical Records

The second type of medical release form grants permission to a health care provider to release one's medical records to a third party. In keeping with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) privacy acts, hospitals and other health care providers are required to keep their patients' medical history highly confidential. Access to these records is strictly limited, even among staff.

There are situations when a third party may need to access a patient's records, such as when an individual applies for a life insurance policy, adopts a child or for litigation purposes. This can only be allowed with the patient's express permission. Typically, the patient will authorize the release of his or her medical information by signing a medical release form.

This medical release form will come in handy if you want to have your medical information released to a new doctor, hospital or nursing home, a medical specialist or a family member. You may also need one if you run a doctor's office, own an insurance company or have any other reason to access an individual's medical records.

Free Downloadable Medical Release Forms

Here are a few links to medical release forms that you can download, print out and use at no charge:

• Child's Emergency Contact and Medical Information
• Authorization to Release Healthcare Information
• Request for Medical Records
• Second Request for Medical Records

Just as a patient can sign a release form to authorize the release of his or her records, the patient can likewise request that those records not be released. Here is a free release from that can be used for this purpose:

• Request to Not Release Medical Records

One Last Thought

With free medical release forms available to you, there is typically no reason to pay for commercially available forms. Keep in mind, though, that certain organizations may have their own particular requirements for a medical release form. This is because of legal and financial liability or privacy and confidentiality concerns in the case of particular activities or medical records. In these cases, the organization may not honor your free version, and will instead provide their own custom medical release form for you to use.