Medical record retention is governed by laws and policies established by the provincial or territorial medical regulatory authorities (e.g., College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario).These bodies set requirements for how long patient records must be maintained and how to handle former patients’ data.

Toronto Notes 2023 – Ethics and Health Systems:

“Retention of medical records is regulated by provincial/territorial colleges, which outline minimum retention periods and storage responsibilities.”

MCCQE1 Objectives (ELOM > Legal Requirements > Professional Responsibilities):

“The candidate must be able to identify the legal responsibilities of physicians regarding record-keeping, as guided by regulatory authorities.”

National organizations such as Health Canada, CFPC, CMA, and MCC do not set these rules for individual practice management.

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