What does documentation not appearing in a medical record imply in a legal context?

In a legal context, if documentation is absent from a medical record, it typically signifies that the event or action did not occur as recorded in the medical documentation. Medical records serve as official accounts of patient care, and the principle of "if it’s not documented, it didn’t happen" is often emphasized in legal considerations. This means that the lack of documentation implies that the healthcare provider either did not perform the action or did not properly record it, thereby questioning the validity of the claim or event in question.

While it is possible for an addendum to be added later to address missing documentation, the absence itself reflects a gap in the official record at the time it was created. This highlights the critical importance of accurate and comprehensive documentation in healthcare practices.