Can You Record Your Doctor Appointment in Alaska?
Last reviewed
Yes. Alaska law lets a person who is part of a conversation record it, so you can record your own doctor visit without the clinician's permission.
- In-person visit
- One-party consentYour consent is enough
- Phone or telehealth visit
- One-party consentYour consent is enough
Main law: Alaska Stat. § 42.20.310
Recording an in-person visit
Alaska's eavesdropping law bans recording an oral conversation "without the consent of a party to the conversation." The Alaska Supreme Court has said this law is aimed at outside eavesdroppers, not at people who record conversations they are part of (Palmer v. State, 1979). So in the exam room your own consent is enough, and you do not have to tell the clinician. Alaska has no special recording rule for medical offices.
Phone and telehealth visits
The law covers conversations held "in person, by telephone, or by any other means," and the same one-party rule applies, so you can record a phone or video visit you are part of. Federal law also allows this. If your clinician is located in a state that requires everyone's consent, that state's law could also apply, so asking first is the safest choice.
When you and your clinician are in different states, for example on a phone or video visit, there is no single national rule for which state's law applies. Courts decide case by case, and they have not all agreed. California's highest court applied California's stricter rule to calls recorded in Georgia with people in California, while a Pennsylvania court declined to apply Pennsylvania's stricter rule to a call recorded in New York. The safest choice is to follow the stricter state's rule: tell everyone you are recording and get their OK.
Things to know
- In 2025 the Governor asked lawmakers to switch Alaska to an all-party rule (SB 85 and HB 86). Neither bill moved out of committee, so the one-party rule still applies, but this could change in a future session.
- A 1978 case (State v. Glass) limits secret recording arranged by police. It does not make it a crime for a patient to record their own visit.
- Do not leave your phone recording in the room after you step out. Once you are not part of the conversation, recording it could count as illegal eavesdropping.
- Clinics may have their own recording policies and may ask you to stop, even where recording is legal.
What happens if you break the law
Violating the eavesdropping law is a class A misdemeanor (AS 42.20.330), punishable by up to one year in jail (AS 12.55.135) and a fine of up to $25,000 (AS 12.55.035). The eavesdropping statutes do not create a separate civil damages claim.
How to ask your clinician
Your state's law doesn't require it, but asking first keeps the visit friendly and makes your reason clear:
“Before we start, is it okay if I record this visit? I want to remember your instructions correctly.”
Wait for a clear yes. If your clinician says no, take notes instead or ask for a written summary. More tips are in our guide to asking to record your doctor visit.
Alaska law and court decisions
- Alaska Stat. § 42.20.310: Eavesdropping: bans using a device to hear or record an oral conversation without the consent of a party; covers in-person, phone and other conversations
- Alaska Stat. § 42.20.300: Unauthorized interception, publication or use of private communications by a person not authorized by a party
- Alaska Stat. § 42.20.330: Penalty: class A misdemeanor
- Alaska Stat. § 42.20.390: Definitions, including eavesdropping device, electronic communication and private communication
- Alaska Stat. § 12.55.135: Jail term for class A misdemeanor
- Alaska Stat. § 12.55.035: Fine for class A misdemeanor
- 18 U.S.C. § 2511(2)(d): Federal wiretap law: a participant may record a wire, oral or electronic communication unless the purpose is to commit a crime or tort
- Palmer v. State, 604 P.2d 1106 (Alaska 1979): The eavesdropping statute (then AS 11.60.290, now AS 42.20.310) is "clearly intended to prohibit third-party eavesdropping" and does not apply when one of the participants records the conversation.
- State v. Glass, 583 P.2d 872 (Alaska 1978): Under the Alaska Constitution, police may not secretly monitor and record a suspect's conversation through a consenting informant without a warrant; this limits government action, not private participants.
Recent change: No amendments. SB 85 and HB 86 (2025, introduced at the Governor's request) would have changed AS 42.20.310 to require the consent of all parties. As of October 2026 neither bill had moved out of its first committee.
Frequently asked questions
Is Alaska a one-party consent state?
Alaska has a one-party consent rule, so your own consent is enough, for in-person conversations and for phone and video calls. Yes. Alaska law lets a person who is part of a conversation record it, so you can record your own doctor visit without the clinician's permission.
Do I need my doctor's permission to record a visit in Alaska?
Alaska's eavesdropping law bans recording an oral conversation "without the consent of a party to the conversation." The Alaska Supreme Court has said this law is aimed at outside eavesdroppers, not at people who record conversations they are part of (Palmer v. State, 1979). So in the exam room your own consent is enough, and you do not have to tell the clinician. Alaska has no special recording rule for medical offices.
Can I record a telehealth or phone visit in Alaska?
The law covers conversations held "in person, by telephone, or by any other means," and the same one-party rule applies, so you can record a phone or video visit you are part of. Federal law also allows this. If your clinician is located in a state that requires everyone's consent, that state's law could also apply, so asking first is the safest choice.
Does HIPAA stop me from recording my doctor?
HIPAA is the federal health privacy law, but it applies to doctors, hospitals, health plans and the companies that work for them. It does not apply to patients. So HIPAA does not stop you from recording your own visit, and it does not give a doctor a right not to be recorded. A recording you keep on your own phone is your personal record, not part of your medical chart. If you give a copy to your clinic and the clinic keeps it, the clinic's copy can become part of its records and HIPAA would then cover that copy.
Can my doctor's office ban recording?
Yes, a clinic or hospital can have a no-recording policy and can ask you to stop. That policy is a rule of the practice, not a law, but in states that require everyone's consent, recording without permission can be illegal on its own. If you keep recording after being asked to stop, the clinician may end the visit, and a practice may stop seeing you as a patient if it gives proper notice (hospital emergency departments still must screen and stabilize anyone with an emergency). Many medical liability insurers advise clinicians to ask why you want to record and to consider allowing it, so asking first often works.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Recording laws change and can depend on the details of your situation. For a legal question, talk to a licensed attorney in Alaska. AlignCare does not provide medical or legal advice.
