§ 6155. Rights of patients.
(a) Protective order.--Any patient whose medical charts or records are copied and delivered pursuant to this
subchapter, any person acting on such patient's behalf and the health care facility
having custody of the charts or records shall have standing to apply to the court
or other body before which the action or proceeding is pending for a protective order
denying, restricting or otherwise limiting access to and use of the copies or original
charts and records.
(b) Rights to records generally.--
(1) A patient or his designee, including his attorney, shall have the right of access
to his medical charts and records and to obtain photocopies of the same, without the
use of a subpoena duces tecum, for his own use. A health care provider or facility
shall not charge a patient or his designee, including his attorney, a fee in excess
of the amounts set forth in section 6152(a)(2)(i) (relating to subpoena of records).
(2) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as requiring an insurer to pay for medical
records required to validate medical services for which reimbursement is sought under
an insurance contract, except as provided in:
(i) the act of June 2, 1915 (P.L.736, No.338), known as the Workers' Compensation Act,
and the regulations promulgated thereunder;
(ii) 75 Pa.C.S. Ch. 17 (relating to financial responsibility) and the regulations promulgated
thereunder; or
(iii) a contract between an insurer and any other party.
(Feb. 18, 1998, P.L.170, No.26, eff. 60 days)
1998 Amendment. Act 26 amended subsec. (b).
Notes of Decisions
Cited in
9
cases (
3 in the last 5 years), 1990–2025 · leading case:
Buckman v. Verazin, 54 A.3d 956 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2012).
Buckman v. Verazin, 54 A.3d 956 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2012).
“These parties also cite 42 Pa.C.S. § 6155(a), which gives a “health care facility having custody of the charts or records .”
Wayne M. Chiurazzi Law Inc. v. MRO Corp., 97 A.3d 275 (Pa. 2014).
“42 Pa.C.S. § 6155(b)(1). . In its Superior Court brief, MRO acknowledged that its third and fourth questions had not been passed upon or certified, as its Statement of Questions provided that the "answer below” to each question was: "Not specifically addressed, but impliedly…”
Brown v. City of Pittsburgh, 543 F. Supp. 2d 448 (W.D. Pa. 2008).
“1 (2000) (all communications between a sexual assault counselor and a victim, counselor, and/or co-participant are confidential); 42 Pa. Cons.Stat. § 6155 (1998) (a patient’s medical records are generally protected from compelled disclosure).”
Hunt v. Pennsylvania Dep't of Corr., 698 A.2d 147 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1997).
“DOC cites Section 6155 of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6155, which it characterizes as recognizing a patient’s interest in the confidentiality of medical records by granting him or her the opportunity to seek a court order preventing their disclosure.”
R. DuBoise v. B. Rumcik (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2021).
· cites it 3× “3 42 Pa.C.S. § 6155(b)(1) (relating to patient rights to records).”
P. Vega v. J.E. Wetzel, Former Sec'y. of PA/D.O.C.'s (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2025).
· cites it 3× “In January 2022, Petitioner filed a petition for review, asserting an absolute right to a copy of his medical records under Section 6155(b)(1) of the Medical Records Act (Records Act),2 42 Pa.C.S. § 6155(b)(1).3 See Pet. for Rev.”
R. DuBoise v. B. Rumcik (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2022).
· cites it 2× “” 42 Pa.C.S. § 6155(a). 14 be impacted if staff cannot honestly record their assessments and misdiagnoses lead to erroneous institutional placement.”
Hoover v. Amsler, 9 Pa. D. & C.4th 260 (1990).
· cites it 2× “” 42 Pa.C.S. §6155(a). “Patient or patient designees shall be given access to or a copy of their medical records .”
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6155(a) — 3 cases
Buckman v. Verazin, 54 A.3d 956 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2012).
“These parties also cite 42 Pa.C.S. § 6155(a), which gives a “health care facility having custody of the charts or records .”
R. DuBoise v. B. Rumcik (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2022).
“” 42 Pa.C.S. § 6155(a). 14 be impacted if staff cannot honestly record their assessments and misdiagnoses lead to erroneous institutional placement.”
Hoover v. Amsler, 9 Pa. D. & C.4th 260 (1990).
“” 42 Pa.C.S. §6155(a). “Patient or patient designees shall be given access to or a copy of their medical records .”
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6155(b) — 1 case
Hoover v. Amsler, 9 Pa. D. & C.4th 260 (1990).
“” 42 Pa.C.S. §6155(a). “Patient or patient designees shall be given access to or a copy of their medical records .”
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6155(b)(1) — 5 cases
Wayne M. Chiurazzi Law Inc. v. MRO Corp., 97 A.3d 275 (Pa. 2014).
“42 Pa.C.S. § 6155(b)(1). . In its Superior Court brief, MRO acknowledged that its third and fourth questions had not been passed upon or certified, as its Statement of Questions provided that the "answer below” to each question was: "Not specifically addressed, but impliedly…”
R. DuBoise v. B. Rumcik (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2021).
“3 42 Pa.C.S. § 6155(b)(1) (relating to patient rights to records).”
P. Vega v. J.E. Wetzel, Former Sec'y. of PA/D.O.C.'s (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2025).
“In January 2022, Petitioner filed a petition for review, asserting an absolute right to a copy of his medical records under Section 6155(b)(1) of the Medical Records Act (Records Act),2 42 Pa.C.S. § 6155(b)(1).3 See Pet. for Rev.”
R. DuBoise v. B. Rumcik (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2022).
“” 42 Pa.C.S. § 6155(a). 14 be impacted if staff cannot honestly record their assessments and misdiagnoses lead to erroneous institutional placement.”
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