Using the freedom of info act for info on horses info @ past vets

[samzy_82]

Hi all,

I am wondering, with regards vets, would it be possible to ask for and recieve information about past ailments/treatments of your current horse while they were with a previous owner??

There is a veterinary practice that gave one of my horses all of his injections from being born, i was wondering if (like the NHS) they keep a file on them and if so what do you think the chances are of being allowed to see it?

I just think it would be nice to know anything that has gone on in the past. They will of course need to omit info about the previous owner(s) which i understand. I have had my horse for nearly 5 years, he has a scar down his flank and im wondering if the vet's file contains any info as to how this happened?

Just a thought....
Thanks!

 

[Snowysadude]

I dont think you can, I couldnt anyway! You need written and verbal permission from the old owners (my old owners gave me this due to a dealer selling him to me with a known medical condition - meant I could get a refund/take dealer to court if needed) and the old owner needs to speak to the vet to allow it as well. The vets were then more than happy to release everything they have on file, dating back almost 4 years

 

[samzy_82]

Aahhhh it would be getting intouch with the old owner(s) that would be the problem, hence i thought I could go straight to the vets.

 

[Booboos]

I doubt you can do it under Freedom of Information. The act is designed to give you access to your personal information (i.e. your medical records) or to information in the national interest (e.g. information about how a political decision was made).

Vets have a duty of confidentiality to their clients, so I think the previous owner would need to give you permission to see the records.

 

[EstherYoung]

Freedom of Information = access to information held by public bodies that is not covered by the data protection act. Does not cover personal data - if the information provided under a FoI request contains any personal data that part will be blacked out.

Data protection = a legal duty to keep personal data private. An individual can request to see information held on them.

You won't be entitled to see information held by previous vets on a horse unless you were the client at the time. If the horse belonged to someone else, you'd need the old owner's written permission for the vet to give you that info. The information is deemed personal to the client, not the horse.