Condensing notes can accidentally transfer a relative's history to the patient. The relationship label may be brief, but removing it changes the statement.
The first case in OET Writing for Optometrists: The Premium Preparation Guide includes family history alongside the patient's own information. It offers a useful basis for an attribution check.
Ask “whose information is this?”
Mark the person associated with each relevant detail before drafting. When you combine information, keep the ownership clear rather than placing several people's histories under one subject.
Original non-clinical example
Notes: Learner: first online course. Sister: completed an online course last year.
Accurate: “This is the learner's first online course; her sister completed one last year.”
Incorrect: “The learner completed an online course last year.”
Review pronouns after a change of person
“She” may become unclear when two women have been mentioned. Repeat a name or relationship when necessary. A little repetition is preferable to ambiguous ownership.
Clarify the subject
Ambiguous: “Her mother attended previously. She would like another appointment.”
Specify whether the patient or the mother is requesting the appointment. Do not guess if the original notes leave it unclear.
Include family information for a reason
Correct attribution does not make every family detail relevant. Select information that serves the recipient and purpose, while preserving the relationship when included.
Practise reviewing one paragraph solely for people and pronouns. Draw a link from each action or history item to its owner, then revise any sentence with two plausible interpretations.
Explore OET Writing for Optometrists — Course 2 to see the course outline, current availability and enrolment options. Use the worked exercise above to identify a skill you would like to practise next.
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OET Writing for Optometrists — Course 2
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Source: OET OPT WR 02.epub, Jobins Training. Examples labelled original or illustrative were written for this article. Independent exam preparation; no affiliation with or endorsement by the examining body. Practice does not predict an official score.