Final answer:
Patient records for adults are generally kept for between 6 to 10 years after the last patient encounter. For minors, records are retained at least until the child reaches adulthood, often with an additional period of retention, such as until the patient turns 28 years old.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the length of time that patient records should be maintained. In general, patient records are kept for a variety of lengths of time, depending on specific laws and regulations which can vary by jurisdiction. For adults, records are typically kept for a minimum of between 6 and 10 years after the last patient encounter.
However, for minors, records are often required to be maintained for at least until the child reaches the age of majority (which is usually 18) plus a number of years after, often up to 10 years or until the patient turns 28, whichever is longer.
For example, if the mandated retention period for a minor's patient record is 10 years after reaching the age of majority, and if the age of majority is 18, a healthcare provider would need to keep these records until the former minor reaches 28 years old. The exact timeframe can depend on the type of record and specific state or national laws.