The American Psychiatric Association's model law on confidentiality of health and social service records: allowing patients to examine and correct their mental health records.

Traditionally, mental patients have been denied access to their own mental health records, even though third parties such as insurance companies, prospective employers, and government agencies have access to the records and use them in deciding whether to grant benefits or employment to the patients. Adoption of the American Psychiatric Association's Model Law on Confidentiality of Health and Social Services Records would end this anomaly by allowing patients to examine their own records. This article examines the problems that arise from the inaccessibility to patients of their records and the present inability of the law to remedy these problems. It then summarizes the major access provisions of the Model Law, suggests ways it can be improved to further protect patient interests, and sets forth the probable clinical benefits that will result from access.