Medical Records

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Medical RecordsWhether handwritten or in an electronic form, it is vital for health organizations or facilities that they keep their patient’s record. Medical records do not only provide a point of reference for the health professionals but also cushion them against legal charges. In other words, the keeping of patient’s medical records is also vital for legal purposes. Therefore, this paper seeks to provide the importance of medical records in legal proceedings such as lawsuits and court cases.
Good medical records are essential in defending clinical negligence claim or complaint. Even though ensuring continuity in the provision of patients’ care is the primary reason for keeping good medical records, the adequate patient record can save a health professional from legal charges especially in cases of reported medical negligence. Notably, this is because medical records contain much information regarding a patient including the prescribed drugs, doctor’s decisions, and diagnosis. In legal proceedings, such information is vital in determining the innocence of a health professional. In other words, patient’s medical records can also suffice for legal use provided that they are adequate for continuity of care (Bown 1).
Good medical records are essential in helping patients demand compensations especially in cases of medical negligence. Notably, good medical records do not only provide information regarding relevant medical findings but also agreed upon actions and the decisions made (Bown 1).

Also, these records would reveal the parties involved in making and agreeing to these decisions. Moreover, the records would reveal any prescribed investigations, treatments, drugs and the person or the official making the prescription. Therefore, with these kinds of information available, no health professional can go free if it is proven that he or she was a part of any medical negligence that caused injuries of any nature to a particular patient. In most cases, the involved professionals would be required to compensate the client or patient in question.

Work Cited
Bown, Stephanie. “The Legal Importance of Good Medical Records.” Medicalprotection.Org, 2013, https://www.medicalprotection.org/uk/articles/the-legal-importance-of-good-medical-records. Accessed 29 Oct 2018.