How should a rating be documented when information is missing or data are unavailable?

• A. Guess based on similar cases
• B. Not Assessed and plan to obtain data
• C. Delete the rating until data is available
• D. Document the missing data explicitly, use Insufficient Information or Not Assessed, and plan to obtain data; avoid making assumptions.

Answer: (D)

When information is missing, document the gap explicitly rather than guessing or hiding it. The best practice is to mark the rating as Insufficient Information or Not Assessed, and include notes detailing what data are missing along with a specific plan to obtain those data. This keeps the record accurate and traceable and guides follow-up so a proper rating can be completed later. Guessing based on similar cases can introduce bias and undermine reliability, deleting the rating removes a record of the assessment attempt, and simply labeling it without a plan leaves the gap unclear. The emphasis is on transparency and a clear path to obtain the needed information.