Is a personal health record (PHR) considered the legal medical record?

A personal health record (PHR) is not considered the legal medical record because it is primarily controlled and maintained by the patient, rather than the healthcare provider. The legal medical record is the official documentation of patient care and treatment, which is created and maintained by healthcare providers according to strict regulatory and legal standards.

The PHR may contain valuable health information, including medications, allergies, and test results, but it does not typically carry the same legal weight as the medical records kept by healthcare organizations. Since the PHR is patient-managed, there can be discrepancies in the information or lack of verification by healthcare professionals, which is essential for the medical record that serves legal, quality assurance, and continuity of care purposes.

In summary, while a PHR provides important personal health information to the patient, it does not serve as the legal medical record, which is systematically created and maintained by healthcare providers.