Who owns the records maintained by the optometrist?

In the context of California optometry laws, the records maintained by an optometrist are considered the sole property of the optometrist, or the optometric doctor (OD). This means that the OD is responsible for the creation, maintenance, and confidentiality of the patient records. While patients have the right to access their records and may request copies, the legal ownership resides with the optometrist, who must ensure compliance with privacy laws and ethical standards in handling patient information.

This delineation of ownership is important, as it establishes the optometrist's accountability in safeguarding sensitive patient information and outlines the responsibilities tied to record-keeping practices in a clinical setting. The ownership also affects how records can be utilized if the practice were to close or if the OD were to leave the practice, emphasizing the optometrist's primary role in managing patient records.