Final answer:
True, documenting a cancelled or no-show appointment is key in protecting a physician from legal liability by showing that appropriate procedures were followed.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is true that documenting a cancelled or no-show appointment is critical to protect the physician from legal liability. If a patient fails to appear for a scheduled appointment and there's no record of the cancellation or attempt to reschedule, this could potentially lead to allegations of negligence or abandonment if the patient suffers harm as a result. Precise record-keeping provides a defense by establishing that the healthcare provider has followed appropriate procedures. Proper documentation should include the date and time the patient was notified or attempted to be notified, the manner in which this was done (e.g., phone call, email, letter), and the name of the person who made the contact.