Sold at extremely high prices, a record $45,000 was paid for a single gallbladder (Barron 1991). To illustrate the avid market in this product, an Asian dealer in New York City was murdered in 1991 to obtain his profits from the sale of bear gallbladders.
In the absence of state law guidance, APA's Record Keeping Guidelines indicate that psychologists may consider maintaining full records for seven years after the last date of service or for three years after a minor patient reaches majority, whichever comes later.
How long should records be kept? Although states may have different guidelines or laws, The Doctors Company recommends the following: Adult patients, 10 years from the date the patient was last seen. Minor patients, 28 years from the patient's birth. Deceased patients, five years from the date of death. In California, where there is no statutory requirement regarding physician offices, the California Medical Association recommends that medical records be retained indefinitely or for at least 25 years after the patient's last visit.