It is not clear if medical records belong to the physician, the institution or the patient. There is a bill being discussed in the Chilean Congress that establishes that "the patient, personally or through a representative, has the right to access and review his medical record. In case of death, this right may be exerted by his inheritors". In this article we postulate that this bill infringes a number of legal norms in force and universally accepted ethical principles. We distinguish between patient's advocacy to be informed and their free access to medical records. The main ethical principles violated are those of beneficence and non maleficence (Rev Méd Chile 2003; 131: 111-4)