recording hospital consultants

saving_pennies

Does anyone know if it is possible to use dictaphone to record a appointment with a consultant?

I saw a consultant last week and had an awful experience. My carer was with me and heard and saw everything. I have written a compliant to PALS at the hospital and they are going to arrange for me to see another consultant. I've been told I can see the hospital notes and write my own comments in them.

This morning I received a copy of the letter the consultant wrote to my doctor. Obviously the consultant hasn't written any of her disrespectful comments in the letter. It then comes down to my word (and as my carer was there she can back me up) versus the consultants, and I wouldn't be surprised if the consultant denied what she said or if I am classed as a difficult patient.

I am wondering if it is possible to record the appointment so that should I ever have such an experience again I will have word for word what is said. Obviously I will need the consultants consent and I will only keep it if there is cause for concern or compliant, otherwise I will delete it.

I will ask PALS next week but in the meantime I am wondering if others have managed to record a hospital appointment?

MightyB_2

It is up to the individual consultant so you need to ask when you attend the appointment. Some don't mind as they appreciate that they may be giving you lots of information that is difficult to remember, but some will object.

You have my sympathy on this one - my consultant is terrible; really aggressive and rude even when I take in another member of staff as a chaperone. He even objects to me asking questions so recording him would be out of the question. Unfortunately he is the leading national expert in my condition so I've got no chance of going elsewhere...

saving_pennies

Thanks MightyB

Yes recording would also let me listen to it back later to get anything I might have mised or not remembered from the appointment, so that I can better understand the condition and help myself.

I'm sorry you have difficulties with your consultant too. Apparently the one I saw was meant to be good and was recommended by my doctor. I'm sure the consultant is good in terms of knowledge and I hope would correctly identify a problem, however, the consultant's attitude and the way the examination was conducted was not appropriate and has much room for improvement.

I wonder if your consultant has a close colleague working under him who could see you, so you can get the expertise but without the rudeness and aggression?

snoopy89

i told mine to come down to earth once, we got on great after that and he neaver forgot my name even when he retired and we meat again. sometimes they just go along in there own world i think.:rotfl::)

saving_pennies

snoopy89 wrote: »

i told mine to come down to earth once, we got on great after that and he neaver forgot my name even when he retired and we meat again. sometimes they just go along in there own world i think.:rotfl::)

Well done you!

I'm hoping never to see this particular consultant again, but if I do I might take your approach. I agree they do sometimes go along in there own little world. Perhaps they need to visit the patient's world!

PALS called me today regarding the written compliant I made. But, me being tired and not thinking straight, forgot to mention about if I can record. Doh!!! The lead clinical nurse will be calling me back later in the week so I will remember to raise this. But as it's been said here, it will ultimately depend on the consultant I see.

daska

If you ask and get told 'no' and go ahead they could, quite reasonably, be more than a little miffed. Better to use an inconspicuous means of recording and, if challenged, tell them it's for your records because you struggle to remember everything said in the session and didn't want to delay them by laboriously taking written notes.

Richie-from-the-Boro

My understanding of audio / video recording without prior permission is that any clandestine evidence gathered this way is inadmissible as evidence in any tribunal scenario.

If I remember correctly there is an ATOS pilot running on exactly these lines, but the technical needs of the recording are oppressive & horrendously expensive. See appeal case known as CIB/3117. Additionally if you read the small print on ATOS documents you will find a clause saying that you '' waive your right to see medical information divulged to third parties ''. It plainly says that '' any doctor can refuse to reveal any or all of your medical records to you on the grounds that they feel it is not in your best interests to see them ''

ATOS do allow audio recording by pre-arrangement and on condition that the equipment used is a double tape deck type used by the police, and, that the equipment is operated by a qualified recording engineer to an exacting standard!

Id tape it anyway, you may not be able to use it, but, you are certainly better off with the info .. .. than without it.

oldsporty

How awful to be treated like that by your Consultant. I had the most humiliating appointment a few years ago in a Cardiology Department. It wasn't with a Consultant but with the Technicians/Nurses in the ECG Deptpartment. I entered the room and was told very bluntly to strip to my waist and then left to stand there with nothing to cover myself with while they discussed their evening plans and shopping, I was waved over to the bed and hooked up to the machine all with no verbal communication, nothing more apart from the being told to strip was said to me until they said I could go. I wasn't ever offered anything to cover myself with, no explanation of the procedure or anything about results etc. I was literally told to strip and then go. All of this while they carried on their personal conversation. I felt so humiliated and was basically in tears before I was even off the table. My Husband was furious and wanted to complain but I was just so upset I wanted out and to forget the incident but I never have and it still upsets me that 2 professional people could behave in such a way. It only adds insult to injury that I used to be a Nurse and never treated patients with anything but the utmost respect and would have come down on any Staff in my charge for doing something like that. Also this all happened in the Hospital where I worked. I hope your complaint is upheld and hasn't put you off seeing the Medical people you need to like it did me.

saving_pennies

See appeal case known as CIB/3117.

The appeal case made interesting reading!



I thought under the Freedom of Information Act a person was entitled to see all information held on them. Or can medical professions still hold some information back?

I'm not sure if NHS doctors take the same approach as ATOS doctors.

I wouldn't be comfortable recording without permission. An alternative would be having a person with me taking notes. Perhaps after we slow the doctor so we can write word for word the doctor may say, ok you can record lol.

saving_pennies

oldsporty - Sorry to read of your awful experience. Pity the nurses/technicians didn't give you the same courtesy and consideration as you gave patients when you worked there.

I ended up in tears too. Both from the pain and the way the consultant spoke down at me.

As a teenager I had a lot of bad experiences with doctors and avoided them best I could. Whenever I did have to see a doctor I was so suspicious of their intentions - frequently doctors wrote one thing and told me something else. Luckily, in the next 10 years, I had a lovely GP who let me read everything she wrote about me and I learned I could trust her. Unfortunately, when I moved area I had to change GP too I no longer (well ... up until this recent experience) feel mistrusting when I see a new doctor/consultant. But this recent experience has certainly made me feel wary again, and it seems this consultant has also wrote one thing and told me something different! Speaking out about my experience is helping though. Plus, I know there are good doctors that are trustworthy and also treat patient's with respect - I won't let this recent experience stop me seeing another consultant.

MightyB_2

I agree with Richie. Information can be withheld from you even under the FOI act if it is not in the 'public interest' to disclose it. Practically, this means that if something is written about you that you may find upsetting, they don't have to release it. DWP refused to release the letter my consultant had sent them regarding my DLA claim when I requested it both under FOI and the DPA; I later found out this was due to the fact that he had revealed to them that my condition was more serious and with a worse prognosis than he had explained to me. Even though this info was about me and was something I wanted and needed to know, the law is firmly on the side of the information holder. I only got the info when I looked at my file when the consultant was out of his office, :rotfl: