| Abstract: | Reviews the book, The Canadian law of patient records by Lorne Elkin Rozovsky and Fay Adrienne Rozovsky (1984). Those concerned with ensuring the quality of patient records may look to this book for guidance. The authors observe that while the major reason for maintaining records is to record information necessary to treat the patient, they must be maintained for many other purposes: teaching, research, statistical, accreditation, audit, etc. In addition to rules of general application for the maintenance of patient records, the authors have included checklists and sample forms to good effect. However, it is beyond the scope of a 148-page volume concerned with the law across Canada to function as a comprehensive manual for any particular facility. Non-lawyer readers wishing to know more about this small corner of the law will be pleased with the authors' lucid, easy style. Their work is free of turgid legalese, although the exclusive use of the male pronoun to describe both men and women is objectionable. The Canadian law of patient records will be a welcome addition to the libraries of hospitals and other health care facilities. It will be of particular value as a reference work for administrators who must establish and revise their facility's written policies on the maintenance of records. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
