SOME CONSEQUENCES OF GRANTING PATIENTS ACCESS TO CONSULTANTS' RECORDS

A Scottish professor and consultant physician analyzed the medical records of 100 of his patients to predict how the Data Protection Act of 1984, if applied to patient access to manual records, would affect physician record keeping. In almost half of the records, he found puzzling or unintelligible notes, alarming comments, and apparently objectionable or deceptive statements that could cause misunderstanding and anxiety. Short contends that patient access would promote the keeping of second sets of notes, would hinder frank consultant-general physician communication, and would necessitate additional costs to implement. He concludes that the patient's interests can best be served by better physician record keeping and improved communication in the traditional manner.