Are medical records admissible in court?
The short answer is, yes, if the records are relevant to the issues at trial. For example, if someone slipped and fell, was in an auto accident, or claimed malpractice against his/her surgeon, medical records would be admissible to prove liability and/or damages. In fact, they may be some of the best evidence available. If the issue is a breach of contract, or a will contest, or the like, medical records would not likely be admissible because they are not relevant to the issues that will be litigated at trial. In terms of admissibility from a procedural standpoint, the records must be “authenticated” to be received into evidence. Meaning that a doctor who is familiar with the files will have to state that he is familiar with the records, those are his notes, handwriting, etc. Hope this helps.
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