Erroneous Information in Medical Record

I always see bogus stuff in my records when I read notes on the portals. I think they make those notes later in the day and forget the details or mix up patient conversations. I often read that we discussed things we never discussed like standard things they should counsel patients about but didn’t. CYA on their part. Or is see “patient denies having symptom x” when I specifically stated I have symptom x. So annoying. Most is small stuff so I don’t battle it. Sometimes they just didn’t understand what I was explaining. Once did I go back about something so opposite of a major symptom I had that I called them up and said I wanted it changed. They didn’t remove the bogus info, but added a note about my call and what I said the correction is. I accepted that. Another time they logged that I received vaccines that day that I didn’t receive or even discuss and I had that corrected. And a third doctor had me listed as 6” shorter than I am so it made me sound fat with my weight. Do I look 5’ 3”? LOL Easy fix at next visit. My issues were with a cancer radiation center and private practice doctors not a hospital. I have let tons of small errors go. If it will make a difference in your care then pursue it, but if it’s insignificant let it go because you’ll see it a lot over the years. Good luck.

The medical record is a legal document. Once a note is signed by the doctor, it cannot be changed. When we started using electronic medical records, the inability to change a note after signing it was built into the software. But it can be amended, as described above.
I agree that inaccurate doctors’ notes are a problem, and too many doctors just don’t care. In my own practice, I have mixed up patients and I have forgotten information when writing a note at the end of the day. A solution that helped my note-taking accuracy was to type as much as I could while the patient was talking. And to try to make it less rude, I explain to the patient that this helps me write more accurately. I also use a laptop, so I can face the patient.
But even so, doctors’ notes are completely one-sided. Miscommunication and misunderstanding happen. Yet legally, doctors’ notes carry more weight than what a patient might say later. Not fair, but that’s the way it is.
Probably the best way to have a say in the accuracy of your own medical records is to read the note as soon as you can, and request an amendment (when necessary) as soon as possible. Sooner amendment requests carry more weight than later ones. And if you do this in the portal, it will be legally time-stamped and legally part of the medical record.
But the best solution to all this is to get doctors to really care about accuracy.

Before you give money to a lawyer reach out to the patient relation department.
If that doesn't work yes get a lawyer. Electronic records a forever. My GI is identified my cancer as a different type. My oncologist told me to ask her to correct it because it could cause confusion in the future.

@lilypearl While I have not found erroneous information in my own medical record. This has happened to my husband, who is a retired MD. We figured out that information included in his medical record that was never discussed during his visit resulted from the PA working from some kind of template and not reviewing the information carefully enough.

The best any of us can do is to read our own medical record/note as soon as it is available. If we find errors we contact the physician or practice office, point out the error(s) and ask for a amendment since as others have written above Electronic Medical Records cannot be changed. If one's medical record is not amended as requested then the next step is to ask for the Practice Manager and work with this individual. If that still does not work and the practice is part of a large medical center then yes, contact Patient Relations. At Mayo Clinic this is referred to as Office of Patient Experience:

-- https://www.mayoclinic.org/about-mayo-clinic/patient-experience

I view working with an attorney as a last resort as it can cost money. However, it's possible that a short conversation with your attorney will result in a letter to the medical practice and you will get a quick result.

I agree there should be no errors in one's medical record. Would you feel comfortable giving us the kind of error you found? As @denisestlouie indicated her error was a very serious one as it was an incorrect diagnosis.

In my last visit with my pcp in July, she used an “AI scribe” to take notes during my visit. It was the most accurate and complete recording of what I said and what she said. She was also able to have a conversation with me face to face without having her face in a laptop. The only inaccurate information was my weight which was input by the medical assistant who transposed numbers. I am very leery of all things AI, but this is one area where it seems to work.

My fenale PCP has a male scribe (nursing student he told me) in the exam room with us.
I'm not comfortable at all with this setup.
He writes everything on a laptop computer as the DNP and I talk, as she does screening tests, etc.
I have an upcoming appointment with her and I'm going to tell her I'm not comfortable talking about my private business with him in the room.
I can't confirm what he's typing about me either.
So much for HIPAA protection.
It's Oak Street Health owned by CVS as I understand the setup.
Going to find another PCP.

What does the AI scribe look like?
Is there another person in the room with you and your PCP that handles the AI device?

I've written up medical and legal records in my past careers so I'm a stickler for documenting the correct information.
Granted many of the transcriptionists have multiple cases in a day to transcribe.
My sister said my record reads like they have information for some other patient in my record.

I appreciate your insight. Thank you.
I worry about an insurance company using the wrong information to deny coverage based on erroneous doctors subjective telemedicine assessment which were contrary to doctors who have seen me in person.
Original Medicare, under Mehmet Oz, is going to be using 3rd party companies to evaluate the necessity of doctor orders, require pre-approvals for procedures, surgeries, medications, etc. like Medicare Advantage plans do.
I have Original Medicare and like it.
Maybe this isn't the forum for the Medicare comment (?)

My age.
They wrote eight years younger than I am.
They classified me an anesthesia risk of ASA III, someone with severe systemic disease, which I do not have.
None of this applies to me:
ASA III Substantive functional limitations; One or more moderate to severe diseases. Poorly controlled DM or HTN, COPD, morbid obesity (BMI ≥40), active hepatitis, alcohol dependence or abuse, implanted pacemaker, moderate reduction of ejection fraction, ESRD undergoing regularly scheduled dialysis, history (>3 months) of MI, CVA, TIA, or CAD/stents.