Can patients safely read their psychiatric records? Implications of freedom of information legislation

Abstract

Objective: To assess how suitable psychiatric medical records are for access by patients.

Design: We examined a random selection of psychiatric records to identify features which we thought might be confusing or injurious to a patient reading his or her own record.

Results: Potentially offensive, alarming or upsetting entries were found in most records.

Conclusion: Clinicians need to take care in recording information in medical records lest patients be adversely affected by the experience of reading their notes. Access should always be arranged in conjunction with a medical supervisor.