What language is it that Doctors write our medical perscriptions in?

Question

At one time patients could not understand the medical perscriptions scribbled out by their Doctor. only the pharmacist could understand, What language was it written in, and why not in a language the patient could read?

Answer 1

A long time ago, physicians had to write almost a recipe, telling the pharmacist how to put together the ingredients. Much of this was done in Latin.

Now, we write prescriptions in English, but with Latin abbreviations.

Name of drug, amount of drug, formulation
(Diazepam 2 mg tablets)
How much to dispense
(#30)
Directions for the patient
(Sig: i tab po bid = Write one tablet by mouth twice a day)

Patients should ask their doctors what the Rx says, and double check the pharmacist's accuracy.

Answer 2

All of them write in English except for a few abbreviations but since they are writing the same medicines on and on they seem to just scribble and the pharmacist understands coz he is also playing with those few medicines and comes to know what the doctor often writes, this can be understood coz if you cant read a prescription and take it to a pharmacy away from the doctor who has scribbled it there is a lot of probability that the other pharmacist also doesnt undersatand what has been scribbled.

Answer 3

A) You may not need antibiotics (i.e. if your UTI/cystitis is not bacterial in origin - some cystistis is caused by sexual activity resulting in inflammation and sometimes it's viral in origin, so antibiotics won't make a difference). B) You'r doctor CAN write a prescription if they believe it is medically necessary and you can probably pick it up before their surgery closes or tomorrow. Call NHS Direct to advise you as to where your nearest emergency pharmacist is if you are given a prescription this evening. C) Out of hours, your GP practice will provide a telephone number to a service that might be able to help you if your GP cannot/will not provide the care you are seeking. In a GP's mind, your condition cannot be that bad if you can't come in to see them today. Some people might think this is unreasonable, but remember that although your condition is distressing to you, it is not life-threatening and they have to see patients who are dying on a daily basis, so at leasdt they are offering you a telephone consultation.

Answer 4

Medical terminology is primarily based on greek and latin. The actual prescription, also known as a script, is a form of shorthand written in English that is legible and readable to those in the field.

Answer 5

The abbreviations are derived mostly from latin. The pharmacist will translate what you need onto the bottle. The prescription gives the drug name, dose, regimen on it.
Sometimes, pharmacists do have to call the MD because they can't read the prescription.

Answer 6

I believe that would be the language of Scribble Scrabble..lol I know what you mean. Probably so we didn't know what we had. Hence the rise in people stealing perscriptions.

Answer 7

My doctor writes in English!

Answer 8

yes, that's very true. that's why when our teacher discovers a student in our class who writes not legibly, she calls him a doctor.. but i think the fact there is that, they always hurry so as a result, they write like an alien.. but wait, do they study a doctor calligraphy? i, too, wonder why they're like that

Answer 9

I used to think it was a different language, too - until I saw my doctor's signature - hell, he just can't write legibly.
Looks like the proverbial chicken scratchings.

Answer 10

It is based on latin and greek ; bid is twice a day ; tid is 3 times a day
this site is helpful
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_prescription