title: When to allow or deny adult access to children's health records.
abstract: The Data Protection Act 1998, section 7, has long granted patients the right of access to their health records. The right is exercised by a subject access request and a person with parental responsibility may exercise this right on behalf of a child. However, once the child is considered Gillick competent then a subject access request to a child's records must only be granted with the consent of the child. In this article the author sets out the requirements for a subject access request and why community nurses and specialist practitioners must proceed with caution when a request is received in respect of a child from the age of 12 years.
authors: School of Health Science, Swansea University. richard.griffith@swan.ac.uk
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Griffith
authors: Cassam
authors: C
authors: Tengnah
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003152:Community Health Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D033242:Minors / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010290:Parents; D033283:Patient Access to Records / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006113:United Kingdom