Final answer:
Deceased patients' medical records are filed in an inactive or closed file, maintained for legal and historical purposes, and governed by specific retention periods.
Step-by-step explanation:
The medical records for patients who have died should be placed in a file that is often referred to as an inactive or closed file. These records are typically separated from the active patient files to maintain an organized system and ensure that they are preserved in accordance with legal requirements and institutional policies. Such records may still need to be accessed for legal inquiries, research, or verification of family medical history, so they are usually retained for a specific period, which can vary based on local regulations. It's important that healthcare facilities manage these records with a high level of confidentiality and security.