I had a poor experience when I visited ED early last year. I didn't do anything about it as I know I shouldn't have been there, but my GP insisted I go. It's a long story, but after 6 hours of waiting, I collapsed in pain. I said to the consultant I was going to faint, my legs were giving way. I fell face down and hit my head on the hard floor. The consultant let me fall.
I recently got a patient summary from my GP practice. I noticed it stated I'd had a panic attack. I hadn't so I requested my medical records. I received a copy of my medical records. The consultant's report from this visit was in there. I was horrified to read a completely inaccurate account of not just the fall, but of the reason I had presented at ED. I apparently had a panic attack (I didn't) and lay down. The whole report was wrong.
I have been wondering what difference raising this issue would make. I was just unlucky, caught that person at a bad time, I know they must lose patience with time wasters 99.9% of the time, I bet they are incredibly patient and caring. Other than there being a panic attack on record that I never had on my record, there's not a problem.At the back of my mind, it's playing on my conscience. If that consultant treated me this way, maybe they have been treating other patients poorly. Maybe others have been made to feel that they are just an inconvenience, maybe others have misleading notes recorded, maybe others have suffered, and who would believe them? I have no interest in anything other than passing this information on. Being treated like an inconvenience I can live with, but covering it up with creative writing in medical records is not acceptable and potentially dangerous, in my view. The patient might never know, the next person to pick up on that condition does not have the full story.
"Inaccurate information in my medical notes"
About: Forth Valley Royal Hospital / Accident & emergency Forth Valley Royal Hospital Accident & emergency FK5 4WR
Posted by Be Kind (as ),
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