diff --git a/backend/routes/api/patients.js b/backend/routes/api/patients.js
index 886dc695..b5cb3d38 100644
--- a/backend/routes/api/patients.js
+++ b/backend/routes/api/patients.js
@@ -169,6 +169,28 @@ router.delete(
     }),
 );
 
+const modifyFileName = async (filename, data) => {
+    var updatedFileName = filename;
+    var file = '';
+    var suffix = '';
+    if (filename.includes('.')) {
+        file = filename.split('.')[0];
+        suffix = '.' + filename.split('.')[1];
+    } else {
+        file = filename;
+    }
+    if (data.filter((e) => e.filename === filename).length > 0) {
+        var numPrev = 1;
+        while (
+            data.filter((e) => e.filename === file + '_' + numPrev + suffix)
+                .length > 0
+        )
+            numPrev += 1;
+        updatedFileName = file + '_' + numPrev + suffix;
+    }
+    return updatedFileName;
+};
+
 // POST: upload individual files
 router.post(
     '/:id/files/:stepKey/:fieldKey/:fileName',
@@ -211,8 +233,12 @@ router.post(
                 if (err) {
                     res.json(err);
                 } else {
+                    const modifiedFileName = await modifyFileName(
+                        fileName,
+                        stepData[fieldKey],
+                    );
                     stepData[fieldKey].push({
-                        filename: fileName,
+                        filename: modifiedFileName,
                         uploadedBy: req.user.Username,
                         uploadDate: Date.now(),
                     });
@@ -232,13 +258,14 @@ router.post(
                         success: true,
                         message: 'File successfully uploaded',
                         data: {
-                            name: fileName,
+                            name: modifiedFileName,
                             uploadedBy: req.user.Username,
                             uploadDate: Date.now(),
                             mimetype: file.mimetype,
                             size: file.size,
                         },
                     });
+                    /*console.log(res.data)*/
                 }
             },
         );