Death Records Now

I’ve lost 3 people in my family to a disease. I’ve been told to get their medical records for screening purposes regarding my own health and the health of my children. I’ve been able to get the records of all but one. This is my brother whom died in Florida in 2007. We are told the only people that can get the records are the three listed on the death certificate. I had one of them do this. Now, we’re being told differently – that only the person who filled out the death certificate form (his wife) can access the records. Currently she is already remarried and wants no part in helping. What is the law? Who exactly can get the records and how do we go about this without getting help from the wife? We are out of state. We also were told my doctor could not request these records without a court order showing "just cause" – family history of a disease is not a reason… so we are told. Please help.

I would suggest you hire an attorney who specializes in health and/or family law. Good luck.

These records would be very helpful to me because I will be getting genetic testing done in the future, and it helps to have detailed family medical history. She died very quickly of a fast moving cancer, and recently my dad- her son- also died of a fast moving cancer. I am concerned for my own health because this happened in both generations, and I take after that side. I am getting my dad’s medical records now. The problems are that I was not the executor of my grandmother, my uncle was, and he is also passed on. In short, I am the only living decendant of my grandmother. Plus, she died in 1984 and she was in New York and I live in another state. I do have her death certificate (which doesn’t include a space for a cause of death, oddly enough, though she was diagnosed), I know which hospital she was in (NYU) and when and for how long. I know she was diagnosed with a specific cancer, but I don’t know the name. I don’t mind paying a fee for the records, I just need them.

You may have to get an attorney to help you get them. Or may your doctor would help out, I really don’t know. You do need the records for yourself, I’m sure it would give your doctors some insight into what could potentially happen.