Medical Records: Refusal to Release by Hospital

[Guest guest]

About a month ago I asked my surgeon to review my video tapes

and radiology films that were done at another hospital. These

videos were taken during my ERCPs / EUSs and stenting. My

intention was for my surgeon to study the videos and films to see

if there is something that catches a surgeons eye that the

endoscopist may have missed (The GI guy ultmately said that

there is nothing he can do; that the pain was either in my head or

originates from some other cause). I just received a phone call

from the surgeons office saying that the other hospital is

refusing to release these videos and films to him. Now I

understand that it is harder to get these (more effort involved to

get the originals, etc) and that it most likely involves " checking

out " the stuff on a loan basis.....but can they outright refuse to

allow my surgeon to look at them? I was under the impression

that videos and radiology films were like paper medical records:

that is, they are " owned " by me and I have the right to see them

or give permission for other docs to see them. Any thoughts on

what I should do to get these records? (short of hiring a lawyer

that is).

Laurie