Comments made on a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) draft are considered a record as they contribute to its developmental history and are essential for demonstrating due diligence in business or medical settings.
The comments in the SOP certainly are considered a record. Those comments form part of the document's history and show the evolution of the SOP through various drafts until its approval. In a business or medical setting, such records are crucial for demonstrating due diligence, adherence to procedures, and for auditing purposes. When commenting on the SOP draft, it is important to provide specific comments that clearly guide revisions. Comments should be actionable and clear to ensure proper understanding and to facilitate any necessary corrections or adjustments.
Adhering to the Golden Rule also applies to the review process, treating the work of peers with respect and providing constructive feedback. Comments made on shared drive documents for business or medical procedures should therefore be considered formal input to the finalization process of an SOP, making them part of the official record of the document's development history.