Having free and secure access to one’s medical records is an important step in improving the quality of both primary and specialty medical care. I am a specialist in developmental pediatrics, and for several years, it has been my practice to send a copy of my report to the patient’s legal guardian. As indicated in Vogel’s article,1 giving a patient or parent the opportunity to read what has been written improves communication, encourages patient and family participation, and serves as a method of quality control. On several occasions, proofreading by a parent has resulted in my amending a report, thereby reinforcing the importance of providing accurate information. Medico-legal vulnerablity may also be decreased when the medical report has been reviewed and accepted by the patient or family.
Transparency makes for good quality health care.