Recording requires careful attention to accuracy.

Purpose

This principle establishes the duty of care owed by anyone who creates or maintains records.

Principle

Recording requires careful attention to accuracy.

Meaning

Those who record law, memory, or process carry responsibility to represent what occurred faithfully. Carelessness, assumption, or haste can introduce error that later becomes difficult to correct.

Accuracy protects both the subject of the record and those who rely upon it.

What Accuracy Involves

• Listening or observing carefully.
• Distinguishing direct statement from interpretation.
• Capturing words or actions as they occurred.
• Identifying uncertainty honestly.
• Avoiding additions that were not present.

Why Accuracy Matters

• Future generations depend on records.
• Disputes may rely on documentation.
• Trust in the system grows or weakens based on reliability.
• Small errors can grow into large misunderstandings.

Accuracy vs Completeness

A record may be accurate but incomplete. Gaps should be marked rather than filled with assumption.

Honesty about limits is part of accuracy.

Examples

• Writing “it was discussed” instead of “it was decided” when outcome is unclear.
• Noting when audio is unclear or memory uncertain.
• Preserving original wording even if later paraphrased.

Common Threats

• Rushing to produce summary.
• Pressure to create certainty.
• Retelling from memory without verification.
• Editing for appearance rather than truth.

Safeguards

• Invite review from participants or witnesses.
• Preserve original materials.
• Allow corrections through transparent process.
• Separate observation from commentary.

Cross-references

• Accuracy and Restraint Preserve Integrity
• Errors Must Be Identified and Corrected
• Selective Recording Distorts Meaning
• Verification Strengthens Trust
• Method Matters as Much as Content

Notes

Future work may include training standards and ethical expectations for recorders.