So why not record a doctor visit?

Pros and cons of letting patients record doctor visits

Ethics Forum

American Medical News

November 5, 2012

Why not take advantage of existing technology by recording the patient-physician encounter? Wouldn’t recording the visit actually improve good communication?

Recording the visit raises several legal and ethical issues. Legally, the parties to the conversation should consent to the recording. The minimum standard set by federal law requires that at least one party to the conversation consent to the taping. Many states set a higher standard, requiring that all parties to the conversation consent to being recorded.

The ethical implications are more far-reaching.