Can you view your doctors notes?

LegacyUser

Hi folks,

Is it possible to view the notes a psychiatrist and their team have been writing about their meetings with you? I am afraid things which are not true or being taken out of context are being written down and will follow me for life. I would like to address this. How would I go about getting access to this would I need to put a request in under some freedom of information act or something?

Merkin

You can make a request under the Freedom of Imformation Act 2014 to the HSE. They then have four weeks to respond with a decision.

GM228

Is the psychiatrist private or HSE?

LegacyUser

Thanks very much, i'll look in to that. I am afraid if I ask him he will think I am paranoid, but my file looked too big for it to be only a few notes.

GM228 It's HSE.

Merkin

You don't ask the psychiatrist. You make the application directly to the HSE. In the event any information is redacted you'll be able to see this too and can make an appeal on foot of that. I wouldn't say anything to your psychiatrist, go through proper procedure instead.

neemish

http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/yourhealthservice/info/FOI/Making_a_Request/


You don't have to tell your doc that you are applying

SATSUMA

If this is a concern for you I see no reason why you can't discuss this with your psychiatric team? You are basically saying you believe untrue things are being noted about you. You can't continue on with a team you do not trust. It makes no sense. Discuss your concerns with your psychiatrist and ask to see your file. S/he may pass it to you there and then to view?

Making an application to get a copy of your file is fine and within your rights but there are bigger issues here that need to be addressed.

Just to note; if there is anything in the file which is deemed to be detrimental to your health it actually falls within the exception of having to release all data.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/legal_matters_and_health/access_to_medical_records.html

Seriously, speak to your team, give them the opportunity to either put your mind at rest re the contents of your file OR make corrections if necessary. They are not the enemy they are engaged to help you.

Good luck OP

LegacyUser

I have to say I agree with talking to the team first. I'm in psychiatry and we certainly don't write untrue things. Where things might be interpreted differently or 'taken out of context' we would usually seek to clarify that with the patient before writing anything. Also don't forget we work in a multidisciplinary team and everyone is asked for their input and impression of the patients so even if one person was getting the wrong end of the stick so to speak, it's usually ironed out pretty quickly. ..we do longitudinal assessments for a reason.
I would have no problem with going through a patients notes and discussing impression of diagnosis and needs over time ... I always write assuming the patient will one day read them anyway!

LegacyUser

Your file doesn't just contain the notes your psychiatrist takes. It also contains all correspondence to/from you, your GP, other members of the team, counsellors, nurses etc. Any results of test you may have had that are relevant, blood tests, scans etc. There's a lot more in your file than 'a few notes'. You might also be suprised to find out how detailed those notes are! The psychiatrist doesn't just write what you've said but also their observations of you during the consultation etc.