Medical records – A vital link in doctor-patient relationship

Medical Record keeping as a speciality has been vastly underscored for quite sometime and only now it has acquired importance being the most essential component reflecting treatment-medically, legally and administratively. Since the care and treatment of patient have become complex and sophisticated with changing times and advancing medicine so has the concept and need of keeping adequate and accurate medical records. Unfortunately, there are no prescribed standards of record keeping in medical profession. However, a doctor must ensure maintenance of proper medical record in the interest and safety of himself, his colleagues, and the patient and most importantly of the medical profession as a whole.

The importance & guidelines for maintenance of proper medical record keeping are discussed in detail in this paper.