Sec. 577.012. DESTRUCTION OF RECORDS. (a) A private mental hospital licensed under this chapter may authorize the disposal of any medical record on or after the 10th anniversary of the date on which the patient who is the subject of the record was last treated in the hospital.
(b) If a patient was younger than 18 years of age when last treated, the hospital may authorize the disposal of records relating to the patient on or after the later of the patient's 20th birthday or the 10th anniversary of the date on which the patient was last treated.
(c) The hospital may not destroy medical records that relate to any matter that is involved in litigation if the hospital knows that the litigation has not been finally resolved.
Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.
Structure Texas Statutes
Title 7 - Mental Health and Intellectual Disability
Subtitle C - Texas Mental Health Code
Chapter 577 - Private Mental Hospitals and Other Mental Health Facilities
Subchapter A. General Provisions; Licensing and Penalties
Section 577.001. License Required
Section 577.003. Additional License Not Required
Section 577.004. License Application
Section 577.005. Investigation and License Issuance
Section 577.007. Change in Bed Capacity
Section 577.008. Requirement of Physician in Charge
Section 577.009. Limitation on Certain Contracts
Section 577.010. Rules and Standards
Section 577.0101. Notification of Transfer or Referral
Section 577.011. Records and Reports
Section 577.012. Destruction of Records
Section 577.013. Investigations
Section 577.016. Denial, Suspension, Probation, or Revocation of License