How long should medical records for an adult be kept before being destroyed and explain how they should they be disposed of?

Medical records for adults should typically be kept for at least seven years after the last treatment date, although this can vary by state or country regulations. After this retention period, records should be securely destroyed to protect patient privacy, often through shredding paper documents and permanently deleting electronic files. It's important to follow specific legal guidelines and institutional policies regarding the disposal of medical records to ensure compliance and confidentiality.