$delete-expunge not working on hapi-fhir-jpaserver-starter

Sean McIlvenna

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Mar 9, 2022, 10:51:08 AM3/9/22

to HAPI FHIR

We're using 5.5+ of HAPI, and see that there is a config option for `delete_expunge_enabled`. We've enabled it. We've also ensured `expunge_enabled: true` and `allow_multiple_delete: true`.

Despite that, though, we're not able to run $delete-expunge. For example;

POST /fhir/$delete-expunge

{

"resourceType": "Parameters",

...

}

We're getting the following error:

```

{
    "resourceType": "OperationOutcome",
    "text": {
        "status": "generated",
        "div": "<div xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml\"><h1>Operation Outcome</h1><table border=\"0\"><tr><td style=\"font-weight: bold;\">ERROR</td><td>[]</td><td><pre>Invalid request: The FHIR endpoint on this server does not know how to handle POST operation[$delete-expunge] with parameters [[]]</pre></td>\n\t\t\t</tr>\n\t\t</table>\n\t</div>"
    },
    "issue": [
        {
            "severity": "error",
            "code": "not-supported",
            "diagnostics": "Invalid request: The FHIR endpoint on this server does not know how to handle POST operation[$delete-expunge] with parameters [[]]"
        }
    ]
}

```

Can someone help? Seems like we've enabled everything necessary for this to function... but it's not working.

Kevin Dougan

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Mar 10, 2022, 8:14:13 AM3/10/22

to HAPI FHIR

Hi Sean,

If you want to DELETE ALL Patient resources, you can try this:

HTTP DELETE /fhir/Patient?_expunge=true { WITH NO BODY }

Alternatively, you can try this:

HTTP POST /fhir/Patient/$expunge

{
  "resourceType": "Parameters",
  "parameter": [
    {
      "name": "expungeDeletedResources",
      "valueBoolean": true
    },{
      "name": "expungePreviousVersions",
      "valueBoolean": true
    },{
      "name": "expungeEverything",
      "valueBoolean": true
    },{
      "name": "limit",
      "valueInteger": 1000
    }
  ]
}

Sean McIlvenna

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Mar 10, 2022, 9:59:42 AM3/10/22

to HAPI FHIR

Hi Kevin,

I was trying to use the $delete-expunge functionality described here: https://smilecdr.com/docs/fhir_repository/deleting_data.html

Is that not available in open-source HAPI?

Thanks

Sahas Subramanian

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Nov 27, 2023, 9:09:26 AM11/27/23

to HAPI FHIR

I'm running `docker pull hapiproject/hapi:latest` and seeing the same behavior. Is $expunge available on the open source version?

Kevin Dougan

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Nov 28, 2023, 8:55:34 AM11/28/23

to HAPI FHIR

The $expunge Operation is in the HAPI-FHIR code here:

https://github.com/hapifhir/hapi-fhir/blob/master/hapi-fhir-storage/src/main/java/ca/uhn/fhir/jpa/provider/BaseJpaResourceProvider.java#L225

In order to be able to use it, you must uncomment one of the following lines in your application.yaml file:

https://github.com/hapifhir/hapi-fhir-jpaserver-starter/blob/master/src/main/resources/application.yaml#L112

https://github.com/hapifhir/hapi-fhir-jpaserver-starter/blob/master/src/main/resources/application.yaml#L127

Kevin

Sean McIlvenna

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Apr 10, 2025, 1:52:32 PMApr 10

to HAPI FHIR

On the `latest` image, I have the following:

- hapi.fhir.expunge_enabled=true
- hapi.fhir.delete_expunge_enabled=true

Yet, I get the following error:

{
    "resourceType": "OperationOutcome",

    "issue": [
        {
            "severity": "error",
            "code": "not-supported",
            "diagnostics": "Invalid request: The FHIR endpoint on this server does not know how to handle POST operation[$delete-expunge] with parameters [[]]"
        }
    ]
}

Any ideas?

James Agnew

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Apr 10, 2025, 1:58:57 PMApr 10

to Sean McIlvenna, HAPI FHIR

I believe only the "DELETE with _expunge=true" version of the operation is currently enabled in the JPA Starter currently: https://smilecdr.com/docs/fhir_repository/deleting_data.html#delete-expunge-delete-with-expungetrue

We should probably also be registering the DeleteExpungeProvider (which provides the $delete-expunge operation) when that flag is enabled in the starter (PRs welcome) but I don't see it being registered in there currently.

Cheers,

James

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Sean McIlvenna

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Apr 10, 2025, 3:08:16 PMApr 10

to HAPI FHIR

Thanks James! I didn't consider the possibility that "delete_expunge_enabled" could only be referring to the "_expunge" query parameter, and not the $delete-expunge operation as a whole. Good thought!

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