Final answer:
The legal owner of a medical record whether it is in original hardcopy or electronic format, typically depends on the specific laws and regulations of the jurisdiction is usually the healthcare provider or institution that created it, but patients have the right to access and control their own records.
Step-by-step explanation:
The legal owner of a medical record, whether it is in original hardcopy or electronic format, typically depends on the specific laws and regulations of the jurisdiction. In general, the medical record is owned by the healthcare provider or institution that created it. However, the patient typically has the right to access and control their own medical record as well.
To safeguard the privacy and security of medical records, several safeguards are in place. For example, healthcare providers are required to comply with laws such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the United States, which mandates certain privacy and security practices for protecting patients' medical information. Additionally, healthcare providers often implement security measures such as encryption and access controls to prevent unauthorized access to electronic medical records.