updatePatient

THE RISK

Medium Risk

Why updatePatient needs a policy

This tool creates or modifies patient data reversibly, which is the defining characteristic of the Write category. Although the data modified is sensitive healthcare information (which elevates severity to high due to potential HIPAA violations, privacy breaches, or incorrect medical records if misused), the operation itself is not irreversible (Destructive), does not execute arbitrary code (Execute), and does not…

From the tool's definition Tool name is 'updatePatient' and description states 'Updates an existing patient' — this modifies existing data in a healthcare system.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access updatePatient gives an agent:

POLICY

How to control updatePatient

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Medplum MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for updatePatient:

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "updatePatient": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "updatepatient_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

updatePatient stays usable, but capped — an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

Create a free account and register Medplum MCP Server — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More Medplum MCP Server tools

Write createCondition Creates a new condition or diagnosis for a patient. Requires a patient ID and a condition Write createEncounter Creates a new encounter (patient visit). Requires patient ID and status. Write createEpisodeOfCare Creates a new episode of care for a patient. Requires patient ID and status. Write createMedication Creates a new medication resource. Requires medication code or identifier. Write createMedicationRequest Creates a new medication request (prescription). Requires patient ID, medication reference Write createObservation Creates a new observation (lab result, vital sign, etc.). Requires patient ID and code. Write createOrganization Creates a new organization (e.g., hospital, clinic). Requires organization name. Write createPatient Creates a new patient resource. Requires first name, last name, and birth date.

All 37 Medplum MCP Server tools →

Write tools on other servers

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Go deeper

The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Argument validation → Checking tool call arguments against schema and policy before they run.
Scoped token → Per-person credentials that grant a defined subset of servers and tools.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

Questions about updatePatient

What does the updatePatient tool do? +

Updates an existing patient. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Medplum MCP Server MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on updatePatient? +

Register the Medplum MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for updatePatient: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Medplum MCP Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is updatePatient? +

updatePatient is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.

Can I rate-limit updatePatient? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the updatePatient rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.

How do I block updatePatient completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for updatePatient. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.

What MCP server provides updatePatient? +

updatePatient is provided by the Medplum MCP Server MCP server (rkirkendall/medplum-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Medplum MCP Server tool call.

Start from Medplum MCP Server, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

CHECK YOUR STACK →