Search for patients by name using FHIR search parameters.
AI agents call search_patients_by_name to retrieve information from FHIR MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves patient records based on name criteria without modifying, deleting, or executing arbitrary operations. It falls squarely in the Read category. Severity is medium rather than low because patient data is sensitive healthcare information (PHI), and uncontrolled searches could leak patient identities or enable reconnaissance for unauthorized access to specific patient records.
From the tool's definition Tool is named 'search_patients_by_name' and description states it 'Search for patients by name using FHIR search parameters.' The verb 'search' and the context of querying patient data without modification indicates a retrieval operation.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Search for patients by name using FHIR search parameters. It is categorised as a Read tool in the FHIR MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the FHIR MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search_patients_by_name: 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 FHIR MCP Server. Nothing to install.
search_patients_by_name is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the search_patients_by_name 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.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for search_patients_by_name. 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.
search_patients_by_name is provided by the FHIR MCP Server MCP server (sdesani/mcp-fhir). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Every MCP server has a record like this.
Type a name, get the same breakdown: verified identity, auth posture, risk grade, capabilities, recommended policy.
Teams ship this data inside their own products. See what a licence covers →