title: Medical records and the law.
abstract: Practitioners involved in the diagnosis and treatment of health-related conditions are vulnerable to litigation. Courts of law frequently award large settlements to plaintiffs who can convince a jury that the quality of service was less than could be reasonably expected. Court judgments are based on evidence supported by hard facts. Practitioners should maintain an accurate accounting of each case, not only as good business practice but also as evidence in case of litigation. The medical record is an excellent source of such evidence.
mesh_terms: D003201:Computers; D007603:Jurisprudence; D008318:Malpractice; D011996:Records; D014481:United States; D014730:Veterinary Medicine