Miss. Code Ann. tit. 41, ch. 10 — Medical Records | Mississippi Code Annotated — Mississippi

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-10-1 Willful or reckless placement of inaccurate information in patient’s record; intentional alteration or destruction of patient’s records; penalties.

Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3), a person, knowing that the information is misleading or inaccurate, shall not intentionally, willfully or recklessly place or direct another to place in a patient’s medical record or chart misleading or inaccurate information regarding the diagnosis, care, treatment or cause of a patient’s condition. A violation of this subsection is punishable as follows: a person who intentionally or willfully or recklessly violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, or a fine of not more then One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or both. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3), a person shall not intentionally or willfully alter or destroy or direct another to alter or destroy a patient’s medical records or charts for the purpose of concealing his or her responsibility for the patient’s injury, sickness or death. A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, or a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or both. Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to either of the following: Destruction of a patient’s original medical record or chart if all of the information contained in or on the medical record or chart is otherwise retained by means of mechanical or electronic recording, chemical reproduction, or other equivalent techniques that accurately reproduce all of the information contained in or on the original. Supplementation of information or correction of an error in a patient’s medical record or chart in a manner that reasonably discloses that the supplementation or correction was performed and that does not conceal or alter prior entries.

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-10-3 Heirs of decedents authorized to obtain copy of decedent’s medical records under certain circumstances; termination of authorization.

The following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: “Heir” means any person who is entitled to a distribution from the estate of an intestate decedent, or a person who would be entitled to a distribution from the estate of a testate decedent if that decedent had died intestate. “Medical records” means any communications related to a patient’s physical or mental health or condition that are recorded in any form or medium and that are maintained for purposes of patient diagnosis or treatment, including communications that are prepared by a health-care provider or by other providers.The term does not include (i) materials that are prepared in connection with utilization review, peer review or quality assurance activities, or (ii) recorded telephone and radio communications to and from a publicly operated emergency dispatch office relating to requests for emergency services or reports of suspected criminal activity; however, the term includes communications that are recorded in any form or medium between emergency medical personnel and medical personnel concerning the diagnosis or treatment of a patient. Where no executor or administrator has been appointed by a chancery court of competent jurisdiction regarding the probate or administration of the estate of a decedent, any heir of the decedent shall be authorized to act on behalf of the decedent solely for the purpose of obtaining a copy of the decedent’s medical records.The authority shall not extend to any other property rights relating to the decedent’s estate. A custodian of medical records may provide a copy of the decedent’s medical records to an heir upon receipt of an affidavit by the heir stating that he or she meets the requirements of this section and that no executor or administrator has been appointed by a chancery court with respect to the estate of the decedent. The authority of the heir to act on behalf of the decedent shall terminate upon the appointment of an executor or administrator to act on behalf of the estate of the decedent. However, the custodian of medical records shall be entitled to rely upon the affidavit of the heir until the custodian of medical records receives written notice of the appointment of an executor or administrator. A custodian of medical records shall not be required to provide more than three (3) heirs with a copy of the decedent’s medical records before the appointment of an executor or administrator. The provisions of this section shall not prohibit an executor or administrator from requesting and receiving the medical records of a decedent after his or her appointment.