GA Ruling Gives Widows Leeway to get Medical Info

ATLANTA (AP) -- Georgia's top court has ruled that a surviving spouse may obtain the protected health information of a deceased husband or wife when no executor or administrator has been appointed for his or her estate.

The Georgia Supreme Court's 6-1 decision Monday ruled in favor of a woman who requested copies of her deceased husband's medical records from the nursing care facility where he lived before his death.

The decision found that Mary Miller is allowed under Georgia law to obtain most types of medical records, aside from certain health records and privileged or confidential communications.