Medical Travel
Medical records handover: the aftercare step most medical travelers skip
The discharge notes you bring home decide whether your local doctor can help you if something goes wrong later.
July 15, 2026·5 min read
Surgery abroad ends at discharge. Your aftercare at home begins with the records you carry back.
What to demand at discharge
- A full discharge summary, not a one-line certificate.
- Operative notes for surgical procedures.
- Imaging on disk and in a portable format.
- A complete medication list with dosages.
- Pathology reports where relevant.
Translation
If the records are not in your home language, have them certified-translated before you fly. Your local doctor cannot act on documents they cannot read.
The records release template
A short letter that authorises the overseas clinic to release everything to you and to your doctor at home. It is the single most useful document in medical travel.
The premium Vault includes a medical records release template.
This guide is general information, not legal or medical advice. Retain qualified counsel in the relevant jurisdiction before acting.