Can physicians legally withhold medical records from a patient due to outstanding financial charges?

The legal principle behind the correct answer is that patients generally have the right to access their medical records, regardless of their financial obligations to the healthcare provider. Under healthcare regulations and laws, specifically the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the United States and similar statutes in other jurisdictions, patients are entitled to obtain a copy of their medical records without undue delay, except in certain specified circumstances that do not include outstanding financial charges.

Withholding medical records for unpaid bills could pose significant barriers to patient care and treatment continuity, thus it is prohibited. This ensures that patients can make informed decisions about their health and seek different opinions or treatments without being hindered by financial disputes.

Other choices such as having a court order or patient agreement to withhold records do not align with established laws that prioritize patient access to their own health information. The process of disputing charges should be separate from a patient's right to obtain their medical records.