Simon Child wrote:
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: GP-UK [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Fay Wilson
>> Sent: 12 September 2004 22:33 To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Data Protection
>
>> I'd be interested in views of others.
>
> I'd agree with what the others have said about the appropriateness of
> retaining old electronic records for particular reasons (preservation
> of audit trail in particular is a reason to keep the records, and
> though perhaps not a reason to keep them they are useful when
> patients return).
>
> Neither of these reasons apply to this patient and this incoming
> doctor: they are not records of his consultations and he has no
> medicolegal interest in them; presumably she is not going to register
> again with this practice.
>
> So your suggestion that she formally requests that her records do not
> get disclosed to this incoming doctor should be honoured since there
> is no valid reason for him to need to see them.
Simon is the most correct, although all of the views are valid.
I suspect that what I said was that accessing the record for any reason
other than post payment verification or in support of proper requests
from authorised persons in respect of medico-legal work, with the
patients permission, or for audit and analysis pre agreed by the
patient, was wrong.
Electronic records should be kept for up to 7 years, unless it is clear
that they have been transferred in toto, including the audit trail.
HTH
Trefor
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