# An error in your medical record: how to request a correction

Find the right healthcare provider, make a specific correction request, and learn what to do if it is refused. Correction and deletion follow different rules.

Canonical: https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/rette-feil-i-pasientjournal
Language: en
Publisher: SamfunnPrep
Author: Hlib Suslov
Published: 2026-10-02T11:51:03.408+00:00
Modified: 2026-10-05T14:49:41.23837+00:00
AI use policy: https://samfunnprep.no/ai-policy.txt

## Key takeaways

- Contact the right provider The healthcare provider or record custodian corrects the record; you cannot edit it directly in Helsenorge.
- Be specific Identify the document, date, and exact information, and explain what should be corrected.
- You can appeal A refusal must be explained and can be appealed to the County Governor.

If you find an error in your medical record, you can **ask the healthcare provider to correct it**. Identify the document and the specific information. The healthcare professional or person responsible for the record will assess the request. You cannot edit the record yourself in Helsenorge.

## Find the right record and recipient

Helsenorge displays records from **some hospitals**, but not all. Your **GP’s record is not currently displayed** in Helsenorge’s patient record service. So if you cannot see a document on screen, that does not mean the record is gone. Contact the hospital, GP, or healthcare provider where the information was recorded. Request access or a copy if you need to check the wording first.

Note which version of the document you saw, so the healthcare provider can find the same note and give you a precise answer.

| Where the error appears | First contact |
|---|---|
| Document from a hospital that you can see in Helsenorge | Use the hospital’s patient-record amendment form, or contact the hospital. |
| GP’s record | Contact the GP’s office and ask for a copy and correction of the specific note. |
| Document from a hospital not shown in Helsenorge | Contact the healthcare provider directly to request access and correction. |
| Information at several healthcare providers | Contact each provider that recorded incorrect information. |

Helsenorge provides digital and paper forms for several hospitals. If you cannot use a digital form, ask for a secure paper option. Do not send health information or passport copies in ordinary email without checking how to submit them securely. [The Helsenorge guide](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/helsenorge-appen-guide) explains login and access, but a correction request itself must go to the right record custodian.

If you have changed GPs, your record may still be with the old doctor or may have been transferred. Ask the old GP’s office where the record is, and request a copy from wherever it is actually held. If the provider closed its practice without another provider taking over the record, Helsenorge says it may have been transferred to the **Norwegian Health Archives (Norsk helsearkiv)**. You can then contact the archive about access and correction. First find out where the document is held; otherwise, you may send the right request to the wrong place.

## Correction is not the same as deletion

Under section 42 of the Health Personnel Act, incorrect, incomplete, or inappropriate information must be corrected when the conditions are met. Correction is made by **a new record entry** or a **dated correction** in the record. The old text does not simply disappear because you ask for a correction. Deletion has separate, stricter conditions under section 43.

A clear typo in a date of birth is easier to identify than disagreement about a medical assessment. An incorrect diagnosis or incomplete description **may also** be corrected, but the healthcare professional assesses the case. Ask for medical terms you do not understand to be explained before deciding that the note is wrong. You have the right to see your record and have difficult terms explained.

Ask yourself what you want to achieve: **correct a piece of information**, **add missing information**, **complain about treatment**, or **see who has accessed the record**. These are different requests. Helsenorge’s access log may show record lookups, but it does not change the medical content. If the problem concerns how you were treated, use the healthcare complaints process as well as, or instead of, a correction request.

**Example:** A note from a hospital appointment says that Sara uses a medicine she has never taken. She finds the date and document name, attaches an updated medication list, and explains that the information could affect later treatment. She requests correction of that specific item, not deletion of the entire appointment. The hospital reviews the documentation and replies to her.

## Make a specific request

A written request helps the healthcare provider find the right note. Include your name and contact details, treatment date, document name or department, a quote of the information in question, what you believe is correct, and why. Attach relevant documentation where available. Do not include more sensitive details than necessary.

If your name is written in different ways in different documents, also give your previous name or spelling. This can help the provider find the right record without requiring you to send your entire archive of documents.

You can use this template:

> To [healthcare provider]. I am requesting a correction to information in my medical record. This concerns the document [name/date/department]. It says [brief quotation]. I believe the correct information is [correction] because [brief explanation]. I am attaching [documentation]. Please confirm that you have received this request and send me a written reply. [Name and date].

For hospitals, the request must be in writing, and the person responsible for the record decides whether the requirements for correction or deletion are met. Keep a copy of your request and the reply. If you see **information about another person** in your record, Helsenorge says to call the hospital immediately so the error can be handled quickly.

## If your request is refused

A refusal to correct must be explained, and both your request and the reasons must be entered in the record. You can **appeal a refusal to the County Governor (Statsforvalteren)**. Read the decision you received: it should explain the right to appeal and how to submit an appeal. Attach the original request, the reply, and documentation showing what is wrong. [Patient rights and complaints](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/pasientrettigheter-og-klage-norge) covers other types of complaints, but this issue specifically concerns **information in the medical record**.

If you need the incorrect information not to be used in further treatment **right now**, tell the doctor or hospital treating you while you wait for the formal correction. A correction request can take time, and important information about medicines, allergies, or previous treatment should be discussed directly with healthcare professionals. SamfunnPrep also explains [privacy and access to information](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/datatilsynet-gdpr-innsyn-sletting); medical records are also subject to specific rules.

**Short checklist:** Find the document, note the date and error, contact the right healthcare provider, submit the request securely, save the reply, and follow the appeal process if refused. Helsenorge is where you can see some documents; healthcare professionals correct the record.

**Sources checked 2 October 2026:** Helsenorge on patient records and amendment forms; the Norwegian Directorate of Health on section 42 of the Health Personnel Act and correction/deletion.

## FAQ

### Can I edit my medical record myself in Helsenorge?

No. You can ask the healthcare provider to correct it. A healthcare professional or record custodian decides whether the conditions are met.

### Where can I find my GP’s medical record?

The GP’s record is not currently displayed in Helsenorge’s patient record service. Contact the GP’s office to request access or a copy.

### Is the incorrect text deleted when the record is corrected?

Not usually. Under section 42 of the Health Personnel Act, correction is made through a new entry or a dated correction. Deletion has separate conditions.

### What should I write in a correction request?

State the healthcare provider, document date, incorrect information, what is correct, and why. Attach relevant evidence and use a secure submission channel.

### Can I appeal if the hospital refuses?

Yes. You can appeal a refusal to the County Governor. Read the decision for instructions and attach your request, the reply, and supporting documents.

## Sources

- [Om Pasientjournal](https://www.helsenorge.no/pasientjournal/om/)
- [Helsepersonelloven § 42: retting av journal](https://www.helsedirektoratet.no/rundskriv/helsepersonelloven-med-kommentarer/dokumentasjonsplikt/-42.retting-av-journal)
- [Pasient- og brukerrettighetsloven § 5-2](https://www.helsedirektoratet.no/rundskriv/pasient-og-brukerrettighetsloven-med-kommentarer/rett-til-journalinnsyn/-5-2-retting-og-sletting-av-journal)
- [Deling av helseopplysninger](https://www.helsenorge.no/personvern/delte-helseopplysninger/)

Citation: Hlib Suslov, "An error in your medical record: how to request a correction", SamfunnPrep, 2026-10-02T11:51:03.408+00:00, https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/rette-feil-i-pasientjournal