Journal of Emergency Medicine & Critical Care

Review Article

Thinking about Inking; Medical Alert Tattoos and Practical Implications of Their Use for Providers and Patients

Brito AMP1-3*

1University College Cork, National University of Ireland School of Medicine. Brookfield Health Sciences Complex, College Rd, Cork, T12 AK54, Ireland
2Queen’s Medical Center, 1301 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu HI 96813
3Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 Sam Jackson Rd, Portland OR 97239
Address for Correspondence: Brito AMP, Queen’s Medical Center, 1301 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu HI 96813; E-mail: a.brito.26@gmail.com
Submission: 20 September 2022
Accepted: 10 October 2022
Published: 13 October 2022
Copyright: © 2022 Brito AMP. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Objective: Medical alert tattoos (MATs) are under-recognized and under-studied. The information contained in tattoos may be useful for guiding patient management in emergent presentations such as trauma and critical illness when the patient is unable to communicate. However, use of MATs is fraught with medico-legal complexity as well as reliability and safety concerns. This study aims to examine patterns of use and develop recommendations for patients and providers.
Methods: An online survey was created for health care providers, patients and tattoo artists regarding incidence, background motivation, content of tattoos as well as providers’ experience with and recommendations for their use. A literature review was performed to examine the available evidence presented in previously published case reports as well as historical, clinical, and ethical reviews.
Results: Allergies and chronic medical conditions were commonly seen. Of the providers who had encountered a MAT 39% reported that it had influenced patient management. Literature review showed wide heterogeneity in the use of MATs by patients and providers.
Conclusion: Whether or not MATs are a good idea, patients are using them to communicate medical information. Health care providers should be aware of their use and the complex issues around interpreting the information they contain.