Is it OK to record my doctor's visit?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
Usually yes with permission: patients forget much of what is said in appointments, and recordings of complex visits improve recall and family sharing - most clinicians say yes readily when asked. The legal line: state consent laws vary (one-party in most, all-party in a meaningful minority) - so asking first is the safe path everywhere, and the reluctant clinician will usually offer a written summary instead. Best use cases: new serious diagnoses, surgery consults, medication changes. The courtesies: keep it private like the record it is - no posting - and ask for key instructions to be repeated for the recording.
What to do
- Ask the one-sentence ask. Memory and family sharing is a reason clinicians respect.
- Record the high-stakes visits. New diagnoses and surgery consults first.
- Keep it private. It is a medical record now, not content.
- Accept the written-summary fallback. Same purpose, different format.
Related questions
- What questions should I ask at a new doctor visit?
- What if I forgot to tell my doctor something?
- How do I prepare for a telehealth visit?
- How do I bring up an embarrassing symptom?