Del. Code Ann. tit. 24, § 1761 - Physician discontinuing business or leaving the state; death of a physician; change of physician and transfer of patient records; patient access to records.

Every patient of a physician who discontinues his practice or dies must be notified how to obtain his medical records. The notification is to be done by publishing a notice in the newspaper.  A notification by first class mail must be sent to those patients that have not requested their records 30 days before the physician leaves. Any patient records that have not been procured must be retained for 7 years after the physician discontinues his practice or dies.  After these 7 years the records may be permanently disposed in a manner that ensures confidentiality.