Can You Record Your Doctor Appointment in Connecticut?
Last reviewed
Yes for in-person visits: you can record without asking. For phone calls, a Connecticut civil law requires that everyone agree or that you announce the recording at the start, so say "I am recording this call" at the beginning.
- In-person visit
- One-party consentYour consent is enough
- Phone or telehealth visit
- Notice ruleTell everyone you're recording
Main law: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-187
Recording an in-person visit
Connecticut's criminal eavesdropping law only covers recording a conversation "by a person not present" without the consent of at least one party. A patient in the exam room is present and is a party, so recording is not a crime. Connecticut's civil recording law covers only telephone calls, not face-to-face visits. Connecticut has no special recording rule for medical offices.
Phone and telehealth visits
Recording your own phone call is not a crime in Connecticut, but a civil law (§ 52-570d) lets the other person sue unless everyone consents in writing or on the recording at the start, you announce the recording at the beginning and the announcement is recorded, or a warning beep sounds about every 15 seconds. Courts have not decided whether this law covers internet video visits, so the safest choice is to announce the recording at the start of any phone or video visit. Do the same if either you or the clinician is in Connecticut.
In Connecticut, the rule for calls is different from the rule for in-person conversations, so check which one fits your visit.
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
- The phone rule is a civil law. Breaking it is not a crime, but the other person can sue for damages, court costs and attorney fees.
- Connecticut's felony eavesdropping law is aimed at people who secretly listen in on or record conversations they are not part of.
- 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
Eavesdropping is a class D felony (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-189), punishable by up to five years in prison (§ 53a-35a) and a fine of up to $5,000 (§ 53a-41), but it applies only to people who are not a party or not present. Recording a phone call without meeting § 52-570d lets the other party sue for damages plus costs and a reasonable attorney's fee.
How to ask your clinician
Ask before you start, and record the answer so there's no doubt later:
“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.
Connecticut law and court decisions
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-187: Definitions: wiretapping by a person other than a sender or receiver; mechanical overhearing by a person not present without consent of at least one party
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-189: Eavesdropping; class D felony
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-570d: Civil action for recording a private telephone call without all-party consent, recorded verbal notice, or a warning tone
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-35a: Prison terms for felonies
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-41: Fines for felonies
- 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
- State v. DeMartin, 171 Conn. 524 (1976): Under §§ 53a-187 and 53a-189, eavesdropping requires recording by a person other than a party, so "one may tape one's own conversation, whether one is the caller or the one being called" (decided before the 1990 civil phone statute).
Frequently asked questions
Is Connecticut a one-party consent state?
For in-person conversations, Connecticut has a one-party consent rule, so your own consent is enough. For phone and video calls, it has a notice rule, so everyone must know they're being recorded. Yes for in-person visits: you can record without asking. For phone calls, a Connecticut civil law requires that everyone agree or that you announce the recording at the start, so say "I am recording this call" at the beginning.
Do I need my doctor's permission to record a visit in Connecticut?
Connecticut's criminal eavesdropping law only covers recording a conversation "by a person not present" without the consent of at least one party. A patient in the exam room is present and is a party, so recording is not a crime. Connecticut's civil recording law covers only telephone calls, not face-to-face visits. Connecticut has no special recording rule for medical offices.
Can I record a telehealth or phone visit in Connecticut?
Recording your own phone call is not a crime in Connecticut, but a civil law (§ 52-570d) lets the other person sue unless everyone consents in writing or on the recording at the start, you announce the recording at the beginning and the announcement is recorded, or a warning beep sounds about every 15 seconds. Courts have not decided whether this law covers internet video visits, so the safest choice is to announce the recording at the start of any phone or video visit. Do the same if either you or the clinician is in Connecticut.
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 Connecticut. AlignCare does not provide medical or legal advice.
