Editing Medical Records Concerns

Summary

Editing a doctors note for court can be problematic. In California, tampering with evidence is illegal. Seek a supplemental note or errata for corrections. Always consult your attorney before making such decisions.

Full Conversation

I wanted to know if I was assaulted and went to court if when they ask me for evidence of my name injuries and I give them a doctors notes saying a concussion and back injuries but the doctors note was edited just before the case, would this be an issue?
Hi ****, editing a doctor's note might be problematic as it could be seen as tampering with evidence, which is illegal in many jurisdictions. Could you please provide your location to give more accurate advice?
I live in Los Angeles, California. The reason I asked the doctor to edit it is because she forgot to put in the conversation we had during my visit that is I believe, crucial evidence that supports that I was in fact injured.
It's crucial to maintain the authenticity of evidence. In California:
- Evidence tampering is a serious offense.
- It's best to ask the doctor to issue a supplemental note clarifying the initial oversight.
Always consult your attorney before making such decisions.
what’s a supplemental note clarifying the initial oversight
A supplemental note is an additional document provided by a professional, like a doctor, to clarify any errors or omissions in the original document. It acts as an extension of the initial note, providing accurate and complete information without altering the original.
what if I requested that they edit some thing that doesn’t have to do with the injuries like they miss gendered me and I asked them to edit the original document so it doesn’t have the misled errors
In California, you can ask for corrections in the note for non-medical errors like misgendering. However, it's advisable to have a new document or 'errata' issued stating the correction, rather than altering the original document. Always discuss these steps with your attorney.
is an errata the same thing as a supplemental note
While both errata and supplemental notes serve to correct or add information, they are not the same.
- An errata corrects errors in a document.
- A supplemental note adds further information or clarifies existing information.
and in what document or book would I be able to find the laws and the regulations on this specific topic? What would this specific topic be called when in relation to court and doctors notes?
This topic generally falls under "Evidence Law" and "Medical Records as Evidence" in the legal field. You can refer to the California Evidence Code or legal textbooks on evidence law. Always consult with a legal professional for accurate understanding.