A person requesting records for a deceased patient must prove their authority to act on behalf of the deceased. Is this statement true or false?

The statement is true. In the context of medical records and privacy laws, when someone requests records for a deceased patient, they are indeed required to demonstrate their legal authority to access those records on behalf of the deceased individual. This requirement is rooted in privacy regulations designed to protect the confidentiality of patient information even after death.

Typically, this means the requester may need to provide documentation, such as proof of their relationship to the deceased (like a spouse or child) or legal documents that grant them the authority to request access, such as being an executor of the estate or having power of attorney that extends beyond the patient's death.

These regulations ensure that respectful and appropriate access to sensitive information is granted only to those who have a legitimate interest or legal standing in the deceased individual's affairs, thereby maintaining privacy and compliance with laws like HIPAA. This aligns with the overarching principles of patient privacy and the protection of personal health information.