>>Previously I have suggested archiving a backup tape with a trusted
>>third party, such as solicitor or bank, sealed on a particular date and
>>demonstrably out of our control since then.
>Would this be kept as text, ascii or otherwise? If so what guarrantee
>that it was a true record before being sealed?
None.
Nor does an audit trail garantee that the record is true.
Nor of course does a paper record signed and dated.
The allegation each protects against is that the record has been
altered at a later date.
The physical archive can be used to show that the record was not
changed after a particular date, and the assumption is that this might
be useful. Changing the record after a complaint has been received is
a common allegation.
>If kept as a backup tape then you would also need to keep the software,
>i.e. Windows 3.11 etc, the proprietary database and a suitable PC. Is
>this appropriate?
An interesting general point.
I would suggest keeping it as plain ASCII, or perhaps HTML/XML as I do
not foresee the database being a usful tool for rebuttal or making it
easier to read the record.
But then, as you know, I am inclined toward keeping records in one (or
a few) file per patient., and still waiting for somebody to show what a
silly idea that is.
ASCII seems likely to endure for a generation, and after that it is
somebody else's problem. DOS UNIX Windows and the MacOS seem to be
able to read each other's files, so I don't think an OS is required to
be on the archive.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|