Why is doctors/meds handwriting so awful?

Question

Is it compulsory to write like a blind monkey or are they just unfortunate? Funny how we can never make out what they write on the prescriptions or notes....esp pregnancy notes!

Bog off about the nose, I like it :-P so there.

Answer 1

Apparently bad handwriting is a sign of high intelligence - that's what my son's teacher said when I mentioned his appalling writing. I then wondered if this is why doctors' writing is so bad because obviously they are highly intelligent!

Answer 2

unfortunatly as others hav written the 'health proffessionals' just dont hav time to write neatly unless its something really important then they make time!
After a while you do learn how to decipher it tho & usually u can make out about half the words so it .... a case of filling .. the blanks especially if u c different people when you preg & each writes the same words you find 1 wil write a word you can read & say 2 u cant & some one else wil rite a different word you can read & 2 you cant so eventually you can get the full sentance!!! hehe! hope that helps a bit!!
oh i like the nose by the way!!! & miki purple hair!!

Answer 3

As a neonatal nurse I work with doctors. I don't think there's a great conspiracy about the reasons, I think it's a combination of rushing about and not taking the time to be legible and wanting to retain some secrecy in what they're writing so notes cannot be forged or read by prying eyes who shouldn't be reading them.
A lot of nurses have terrible writing too, and I speak as one who does. I have no excuse, I've always had terrible handwriting cos I rush.

Answer 4

You're right. It doesn't matter what language they speak and where they are from, their handwriting is always impossible to understand. I haven't seen a prescription or note from a doctor with a good handwriting. It's not got really, cause it should be as clear as possible so people can really understand what the paper says, otherwise you might get confussed and end having something you were not supposed to

Answer 5

My husband used to work for a doctor who told him they write messy because in med school they have to take so many notes in so little time and they learn how to abbreviate everything and just scribble it down. Then, when they get out of school and become actual doctors they are so used to scribbling that they just keep doing it.

Answer 6

Just imagine if you saw 50-100 people a day and had to write 1or more prescriptions and papers for every person. It would take way to long for them to make everything readable when you do it all day long for every person. Thats what I think is going on.

Answer 7

maybe because:
1. they don't like the pharmacists
2. they don't know the correct spelling of the drugs
3. they intended to do that because some people can forge a prescription

Answer 8

It is so people cannot forge their signatures. If they all wrote in capital letters or something all someone would have to do is buy a notepad for 1$ and they would have all the drugs they need.

Answer 9

lol i know what you mean i mind last time i got a prescription for a virol infection the pharmastis couldnt read what my doc had wrote and had to phone the surgery it was well imbarresing so u can guess i didnt go back to him again lol

Answer 10

Ours are all now computerized and emailed in for mail order. If its something needed immediately - they just email this over to say Target. Otherwise, if want to take it in yourself, they print it out, then the doc just signs it.

As for notes, why not take your own.