DOCTORS SHOULD PRESERVE TREATMENT FILES,PHOTO,VIDEO RECORDING OF PATIENTS FOR 03 YRS

DOCTORS SHOULD PRESERVE  TREATMENT FILES,PHOTO,VIDEO RECORDING OF PATIENTS FOR 03 YRS

Prof.Dr.Dram,profdrram@gmail.com,Gastro Intestinal,Liver Hiv,Hepatitis and sex diseases expert 7838059592,9434143550

Doctors treating patients in Indoor of Private or Government should preserve treatment case history files or photos taken or videos made of patient's disease or treatment for at least 03 years during which any court consumer,civil or criminal may ask it from doctor or hospital or patients or relatives may demand copy of these recordings and every hospital or Doctor is bound to provide this.

                                Therefore,every doctor or hospital must keep these recordings saved in a safe place it it is digitalised than it is bey good as can be reproduced immediately and even can be provided by email or sms or on many social media platform too.Some Doctors also keep the copy of their prescription either digitally or its carbon or photo copy in their safe for any untoward after treatment story.If a doctor or hospital taking photos or video recording of patients then patients face should not be identified ,eyes or face is masked and prior consent of patient is must before taking such photos or video recordings.

            As per the provisions of Clause 1.3 of the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulation, 2002 the doctor is under an obligation to maintain the medical record and to provide the same to the patient and/or his relative, if the patient and/or his relative ask for the same. The provisions of Clause 1.3 of MCI is reproduced hereunder:

            "Every physician shall maintain the medical records pertaining to his / her indoor patients for a period of 3 years from the date of commencement of the treatment in a standard proforma laid down by the Medical Council of India and attached as Appendix 3.1.3.2. If any request is made for medical records either by the patients / authorised attendant or legal authorities involved, the same may be duly acknowledged and documents shall be issued within the period of 72 hours.1.3.3 A Registered medical practitioner shall maintain a Register of Medical Certificates giving full details of certificates issued. When issuing a medical certificate he / she shall always enter the identification marks of the patient and keep a copy of the certificate. He / She shall not omit to record the signature and/or thumb mark, address and at least one identification mark of the patient on the medical certificates or report. The medical certificate shall be prepared as in Appendix 2.1.3.4 Efforts shall be made to computerize medical records for quick retrieval.” 

              MCI ethics regulations 7.2 further clarifies that not giving records can amount to professional misconduct is : 

“7.2 If he/she does not maintain the medical records of his/her indoor patients for a period of three years as per regulation 1.3 and refuses to provide the same within 72 hours when the patient or his/her authorised representative makes a request for it as per the regulation 1.3.2.”Even many times in many court orders it has been specied that under Regulation, 2002 the doctor is under an obligation to maintain the medical record and to provide the same to the patient and/or his relative, if the patient and/or his relative ask for the same.