Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into a Houston-based hospital over complaints it has denied parents’ and guardians' rights to access their teens’ medical records.
HOUSTON — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into a Houston-based hospital over complaints it has denied parents’ and guardians' rights to access their teens’ medical records.
A letter and Civil Investigative Demand was sent to Memorial Hermann Health System to gather more information about a policy that’s preventing parents from getting a hold of their kids’ record if those kids are between ages 13 and 17. A news release from Paxton’s office reads, “Memorial Hermann appears to be relying on a novel—and incorrect—reading of Texas law as the basis for its policy. Attorney General Paxton intends to investigate the nature and application of the health system’s policy, in order to ensure that parental rights are respected and Texas law upheld.”
The hospital, however, said it is not aware of any complaints. Spectrum News 1 reached out to Memorial Hermann on Thursday and received the following statement: “We are not aware of any specific patient complaints about access to records, and first learned about the complaint in question via the Attorney General’s press release that was shared Thursday afternoon. That said, we believe all our health system’s policies are in compliance with both federal and Texas state laws. We take all patient-related concerns very seriously and will investigate any complaints brought to our attention.