From early in their careers, it is drilled into all doctors that the chances of successfully defending a negligence claim dwindle dramatically without good medical records.

A NSW Supreme Court case involving a GP who was sued by a patient with incurable cervical cancer could probably stand as a lesson on just how important they are.

Athena Kennedy, 42, had been diagnosed with cervical cancer in June 2020. 

She claimed it was preventable and accused her GP, Dr Deepika Malhotra, of failing to mention cervical screening during any of the consults she had attended between 2014 and 2019.