Record – Keeping 

A notice should be prominently displayed on the premises informing clients of the possible risks attached to body modification, to include: blood poisoning, scarring, localised infections and swelling, jewellery embedding and fainting.

Record keeping protects the interests of both operator and client. The client, because technical details of their treatment are noted, so the treatment and any follow-up care can then be tailored in the knowledge of all relevant details. For the operator, the identification of any allergies or health problems that may affect treatment is essential to avoid complications during or after the procedure. A consultation should therefore be undertaken with the client before any treatment is carried out. Records should be kept of this consultation.

 

Consent Forms

Declaration of consent and proof of age should be a fundamental part of the consultation process. Records should preferably be kept for a period of two years (one year minimum), and should include the following items:

• Date of procedure;
• The client’s name and contact address,
• Copy of I.D. if applicable
• Treatment plan, including actual treatment to be carried out and area to be treated;
• A record of the type of body jewellery used, if applicable.
• Medical history, to consider:
• Chronic skin conditions such as eczema & psoriasis
• Haemophilia
• Heart disease
• High/low blood pressure
• Medication
• Epilepsy
• Diabetes
• Allergies*
• Nursing mothers; pregnancy & breast feeding
• Other contra indications, e.g. skin infections close to area to be treated;
• After care advice (written and verbal);
• Associated hazards and risks

If there is a history of any relevant medical conditions, the client should be advised to consult their GP for advice on their suitability for treatment.

 

Health Records of the Client

Any personal information that the piercer obtains from the client either through the consent form or any additional personal information which has been disclosed to the piercer is subject to the Data Protection (Amendment) Act 2003.

The primary objective of the Act is to protect individual’s fundamental rights, notably the right to privacy and accuracy of their personal data held by others in computerised form or similarly organised manual filing systems. The information that a tattooist might keep in a filing cabinet would come within the remit of “personal data” and some of the information could even be classified as “sensitive personal data”. The Act obliges data controllers to comply with certain basic data protection principles and to ensure that personal data is accurate and kept for specified and lawful purposes and is not used or disclosed in any incompatible manner. It also obliges data controllers to take appropriate security measures to protect against disclosure and accidental loss or destruction of the data.  Noncompliance with the principles of personal data protection may render the data controller liable to an action for breach of confidence.