The five-year retention of patient records applies to which patients?

• A. False
• B. Not specified
• C. True
• D. Only if the patient is over 18

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that record retention rules set a universal minimum duration for keeping patient records, and the scope is all patients who have received care, not limited by age. Here, five years is the required period for retaining records, and this applies to every patient you’ve treated, regardless of whether they are minors or adults. So the statement is true because the retention requirement isn’t restricted to a subset of patients.

This matters in practice for continuity of care, legal compliance, and potential future needs such as transfers of care or audits. It also means you don’t gate the retention period on the patient’s age, which is why statements limiting it to those over 18 or claiming the rule isn’t specified aren’t correct.