Summary of the decision: A person requested documents, including an x-ray, from a unit of the University Hospital of Umeå in Region Västerbotten. The unit did not release the requested documents, instead notifying the applicant that a referral was required from the responsible doctor before a patient could obtain a copy of an x-ray. The investigation reveals that procedure at the unit was to refer individuals requesting x-ray images to the unit that requested the x-ray examination, which in turn would order a copy of the x-ray.

The Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman notes that there are no formal requirements concerning how a request for access to an official document should be made and that a request may be made to anyone within the authority. This implies that the regional health authority’s procedure is incompatible with the provisions of the Freedom of the Press Act (SFS 1949:105). Nor may a requirement be imposed for a referral from a doctor before an individual can receive a copy of a document.

Instead, the Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman notes that the regional health authority should have promptly examined whether a copy of the requested document could be sent to the applicant; however, no such examination was conducted. The Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman criticises Region Västerbotten for deficient processing of the applicant’s request for the disclosure of official documents.