Can I see my doctor's notes about me?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
Yes - the 21st Century Cures Act requires access to clinical notes, and most portals now show them automatically. The one exception is private psychotherapy notes from a therapist.
What to do
- Check your patient portal - notes usually appear there automatically after visits.
- Learn the shorthand - "patient denies" means you said no; it is documentation, not doubt.
- Use notes to catch errors - wrong meds or history are worth correcting promptly.
- Know the exception - psychotherapy process notes are excluded, per HHS.
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