We treat patients who are leaving, for whatever reason, with respect. We transmit their records without charge to the next practice at their request promptly. Most patients act similarly. But a good sized minority threaten or abuse us, thinking they need to do so to get their records sent, or to maybe get out of paying a balance they owe. That we never forget. I had to explain that to a father once, when I refused to take his daughter back, in excruciating detail. He was almost in tears. But he understood.
