OOOOOOOOhhhhhh!!!!!
Sorry guys, but can you continue with the discussion without making personal digs at each other..well those of you the feel the need to do so
Thanks
Sorry, purple peach....is that a hiss of indrawn breath or of revelation?:)
Just to steer this thread back on track!!
For the purpose of data protection (I work in a bank, so I do know about this!!) any information you record about a person should be precise and to the point, with no emotion or personal opinion, as it may well be read by the patient.
For example, Mrs Jones is habitually late for her reflexology appointment. You want to record this fact for future reference or to jog your memory when she phones up wanting to book an appointment.
You could write: "Mrs Jones is always late for her appointments, and is a great cause of inconvenience to myself and other clients who are on time" not knowing that maybe Mrs Jones is a full time carer for someone very ill, making it hard for her to get away for some well-deserved "me time". Result of patient reading notes makes her feel awful and as if you dislike her = lost client.
Or, as Data Protection advises, you should write : "Appointment commenced 30 minutes later than originally sheduled, due to delayed client." or similar, each time Mrs Jones is late. If she read that, she would hopefully not think you hated her, and she certainly couldn't deny it, as it is cold, emotionless truth.
As for case studies and the amount of personal opinion required when writing them up, the way to get around having to show these very personal notes to the client is by omitting to include any identifying details, such as name, date of birth, street address, precise occupation details, etc, so that no one reading them - even someone who knows the patient themselves, would be able to identify the client. You are not required to show these notes to the client, as they are not identifying or, necessarily, based on the client themselves, as they are your personal interpretations on a subject they most likely know little about. In a way, it would be like a work colleague demanding to read your diary as you have written something about them in it. It is your personal interpretation on a situation presented to you.
They should only be concerned with notes including their personal details that could be given to third parties and used to identify them.
Hope this helps, even though I know that lots of other people have already made most of the points covered here! 🙂
Actually Gemmeg has made a very valid point here regarding case studies. Write ups handed in should contain NO personal identifying information as you have no knowledge of, or control over, who is able to read them. Therefore introducing the client information in the case study write up may have "My client for this case study was Mrs B. She is in her mid thirties and works in the ........ industry." You would be able to write any opinions you form as to her condition (and state of mind!) but as this information would not be directly able to be associated with her, other than in your own memory, you would never be required to share that information with her as it is not part of the treatment record you must hold and legally show to her if requested.
I hope this makes sense as I have not yet had my second coffee of the day!
Hope your other case studies work out better for you
Dave