Release of records

After seeing a couple for marital work, the female requested that records be sent to her attny. for a medical malpractice suit she instituted.  I informed her that I couldn't release the records without her husband's consent and encouraged her to think carefully about releasing her records as they may not be helpful to her.  After not hearing from her for months, she called recently, asked that the records be released to her so she could look them over before anyone else saw them.  Informed her I could not release them to her without her husbands consent as he was involved in treatment.  She sent a notarized release, signed by her husband.  As far as I know, in New York State, patients are entitled to their records. Must I release them to her?

• Release by William Reid, 4/12/99