Medical Release Forms

From LoveToKnow Insurance

If you need your personal medical information released to a doctor or relative, it is necessary for you to have a generic medical release form.

What Is a Generic Medical Release Form?

A generic medical release form relieves a party such as a doctor, hospital, school, or even a tattoo parlor of liability in case you are injured. You may also be required to sign one of these forms for your child if he or she takes part in an activity sponsored by a school, organization or group.

With the advent of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), having a release form is essential if you want your doctor to release any information about you or your child. Otherwise, physicians cannot release any information due to HIPAA's Privacy Rule, which requires that entities such as a health-care provider, a health plan, or a health-care clearinghouse must protect the privacy of patient information.

What Information Does the Form Require?

The form varies depending on its purpose. For example, different specific details will be required from a medical professional than from a business preparing to perform a cosmetic procedure. Essentially, however, the purpose is the same: Whether you are doing business with a physician, business, school, or organization, they want written proof of your understanding that you are entering into a potentially risky endeavor. By doing so, they are protecting themselves legally.

In order to be legally binding, however, any release form must request the following information:

  • Patient's name
  • Patient's date of birth
  • Patient's contact information
  • Patient's Social Security number
  • Contact information for the patient's doctor
  • Immediate family or other contact names
  • Patient's basic medical background
  • Statement of permission for release of information in case of an emergency

Sample Forms

There are many places where you can find free sample forms. The following are just a few of these sites:

Remember, before downloading any forms from a website, consult your computer's virus protection to be sure that site is legitimate.

When Do I Need a Release Form?

You may need to sign a medical release in a wide variety of situations ranging from medical procedures to hiring a babysitter for your children. Here are a few situations that may require you to sign one of these forms:

  • Your child is participating in a community sports organization
  • Getting a body piercing
  • Your family is going horseback riding
  • Surgery, be it minor or major
  • Your child is participating in a community or religious group event
  • You have switched doctors and need your information sent to your new physician

Before signing any forms, be sure that they are legally binding and that all required information is filled in, completely and correctly.

Limitations of Release Forms

Though a legally binding release form may be in force, it does not prevent you from suing if a situation can be judged as extreme. For example, if your earlobe receives a vicious tear requiring surgery while you’re getting it pierced, you may very well have a solid court case. However, you most likely will not be able to sue if you experience pain or if you have minor bleeding after the procedure.

It is your responsibility to use good judgment when signing forms for either you or your child. You must read the entire document to make sure the law protects you, as well as the doctor, organization, or business, adequately.

If you're seeking other health-related forms, consult LoveToKnow's repository of free medical and liability release forms.

  • Written by Allison Landa
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