Toronto doctors say all patients should have access to complete medical records via online portals

In a CMAJ commentary (sub. req.), two Toronto doctors argued patient portals should be universally available as part of patient care across Canada. The records patients access through portals should, at a minimum, include the primary care physician's cumulative patient profile, the doctors say. That includes a summary of a patient's social, family, medical and surgical history; substance use; current medications; previous drug intolerances; and drug allergies. Under Canadian law, patients are already entitled to see their records and charts but getting access involves a cumbersome bureaucratic process.