Data recording for unidentified patients

ABSTRACT

Patients without known identification often cause problems in daily routine admission and discharge processes, and this asks for further consideration. If patient's identity is not determined until discharge, problems might be imposed on judicial system and forensic medicine authorities. Therefore, it's expected that authorities take appropriate universal measures, in all of the hospitals nationwide, immediately after such patients' admission to the hospital; hence, assisting in patient's immediate or later identification. In addition, these measures would protect authorities and clinicians against potential complaints and lawsuits. In our country, until now, there have been no approved guidelines, specifying the manner in which these unidentified patients should be admitted, and it is not established what specific measures should be adopted by health service providing centers while dealing with these patients, in order to prevent liability of hospitals and curtail further problems for patients. In this article, we examined this issue and reviewed the points that must be taken into consideration when admitting these patients. We also proposed a proceeding designed for covering necessary issues during admission of this group of patients