12 - Records and reports

Summary

Details in written material may be used to challenge or support a person’s asylum case, usually relating to credibility. There may be intense scrutiny of clinical material by people without clinical training. Writing records, letters and reports for people seeking asylum requires careful attention to confidentiality and consent, use of impartial, precise language and distinguishing direct quotes from opinion and summary. Clinicians should record any disclosure of scars of physical injury even if they cannot conduct a physical examination. Records and letters may contain imprecision, uncertainty and errors and may be misinterpreted or given undue weight. Before releasing records, clinicians need to ensure consent is up-to-date and adequately informed, and to add a caveat about the limitations of such records. Clinicians may prepare letters or reports for use in legal proceedings acting in an everyday clinical role (as a professional witness) or as an expert witness.They may be asked to address issues such as: causation; reporting requirements; fitness to give evidence; capacity; vulnerable adult status; asylum support; fitness to fly; age dispute; fitness to fly; trafficking.