Can You Record Your Doctor Appointment in Wyoming?
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Yes. Wyoming is a one-party consent state, so you can record your own doctor visit without the clinician's agreement, unless you are recording to commit a crime or a civil wrong.
- In-person visit
- One-party consentYour consent is enough
- Phone or telehealth visit
- One-party consentYour consent is enough
Main law: Wyo. Stat. § 7-3-702
Recording an in-person visit
Wyo. Stat. § 7-3-702(b)(iv) says the interception law does not stop a person from recording an oral, wire or electronic communication they are part of. As the patient in the exam room, your own consent is enough, and the clinician does not have to know. The exception does not cover recordings made to commit a crime or a 'tortious' act (a civil wrong).
Phone and telehealth visits
The same one-party rule covers phone calls and video visits. If your clinician is in a state that requires everyone's agreement, that state's law may also apply, so tell the clinician you are recording when they are out of state.
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
- Recording a conversation you are not part of, such as leaving your phone recording in the room after you leave, is a felony and can lead to a lawsuit.
- No Wyoming law gives patients a special right to record, so a clinic can still have its own recording policy.
What happens if you break the law
Illegal interception is a felony punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to five years in prison, or both (Wyo. Stat. § 7-3-702(f)). A victim can recover actual damages of at least $1,000 for each day of violation, punitive damages, and reasonable attorney's fees and costs (§ 7-3-710).
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.
Wyoming law and court decisions
- Wyo. Stat. § 7-3-702: Interception offenses and penalties; § 7-3-702(b)(iv) party or one-party-consent exception unless for a criminal or tortious purpose (in the official Title 7 PDF)
- Wyo. Stat. § 7-3-701: Definitions, including 'intercept' and 'oral communication' (in the official Title 7 PDF)
- Wyo. Stat. § 7-3-710: Civil damages for unlawful interception (in the official Title 7 PDF)
Frequently asked questions
Is Wyoming a one-party consent state?
Wyoming has a one-party consent rule, so your own consent is enough, for in-person conversations and for phone and video calls. Yes. Wyoming is a one-party consent state, so you can record your own doctor visit without the clinician's agreement, unless you are recording to commit a crime or a civil wrong.
Do I need my doctor's permission to record a visit in Wyoming?
Wyo. Stat. § 7-3-702(b)(iv) says the interception law does not stop a person from recording an oral, wire or electronic communication they are part of. As the patient in the exam room, your own consent is enough, and the clinician does not have to know. The exception does not cover recordings made to commit a crime or a 'tortious' act (a civil wrong).
Can I record a telehealth or phone visit in Wyoming?
The same one-party rule covers phone calls and video visits. If your clinician is in a state that requires everyone's agreement, that state's law may also apply, so tell the clinician you are recording when they are out of state.
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 Wyoming. AlignCare does not provide medical or legal advice.
