PRESERVATION OF RECORDS

(a) A hospital may authorize the disposal of any medical record on or after the 10th anniversary of the date on which the patient who is the subject of the record was last treated in the hospital. (b) If a patient was younger than 18 years of age when the patient was last treated, the hospital may authorize the disposal of medical records relating to the patient on or after the date of the patient's 20th birthday or on or after the 10th anniversary of the date on which the patient was last treated, whichever date is later. (c) The hospital may not destroy medical records that relate to any matter that is involved in litigation if the hospital knows the litigation has not been finally resolved. (d) A hospital shall provide written notice to a patient, or a patient's legally authorized representative as that term is defined by Section 241.151, that the hospital, unless the exception in Subsection (c) applies, may authorize the disposal of medical records relating to the patient on or after the periods specified in this section. The notice shall be provided to the patient or the patient's legally authorized representative not later than the date on which the patient who is or will be the subject of a medical record is treated, except in an emergency treatment situation. In an emergency treatment situation, the notice shall be provided to the patient or the patient's legally authorized representative as soon as is reasonably practicable following the emergency treatment situation.