Patients who have been treated in public hospitals are able to gain access to their medical records by means of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) and the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic).

Patients treated in a private hospital, or by a private doctor, have a right to gain access under the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic) ("HRA 2001"), and also under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) ("PA 1988").

For more information on this, see: "Health Records Act 2001", in Chapter 21*5 Privacy Rights.

A person may complain to the Health Services Commissioner (see: "Health Services Commissioner", below, for contact details) if a hospital, doctor or any organisation holding health information, refuses to show the person their own records (though access may be refused in some circumstances under the Freedom of Information Acts, the HRA 2001 and the PA 1988).