Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Health Records Act 2001 - SECT 33

Request for access

33. Request for access



(1) An individual who has a right of access under section 25 to health
information may request the organisation holding the information to provide
access to it.

(2) An organisation may assist an individual in making a request by advising
him or her about the different ways in which a right of access may be
exercised.

(3) A request must-

   (a)  state the name and, unless it is already known to the organisation,
        the address of the individual; and

   (b)  sufficiently identify the health information to which access is
        sought; and

   (c)  specify the way in which the individual wishes to have access, being a
        way referred to in section 28; and

   (d)  be in writing if it is-

   (i)  a request by an authorised representative within the meaning of
        section 85(6); or

   (ii) a request by a legal representative of a deceased individual.

(4) If the request is made orally, the organisation possessing the health
information-

   (a)  may, as soon as reasonably practicable, ask the individual to make the
        request in writing; and

   (b)  if the organisation does so, need not take any further action in
        respect of the oral request.