Why can't i read my doctor's prescription?

Answer 1

they say, a doctor's hand is no trained to write but to touch and heal people. generally, doctors do not give importance to a good handwriting for as long as the pharmacist be able to read the prescribed drugs. lastly, because doctors use medical terms, only those in the medical profession are able to comprehend what they write.

Answer 2

Only the Pharmacists and Nurses can read the writings of medical doctors. Since they are already exposed and used to the different kind of medications due to their work so they are already familiar about the common medications, route and dosage that are prescribed by the medical doctors. <*-*>

ADD:
There's no such thing as secret code.. it's just the writing style of the doctors but not all of them got bad penmanships/handwritings.. some wrote the prescriptions properly. If medics are in great doubt then there's no harm on asking the doctor for the exact name and spelling of the medications.

Answer 3

You could enroll as a medical transcriptionist, to improve your medical vocabulary.

If this is still not enough for you, you could go to medical school.

After nine years or so, and you have finally deciphered the prescription, the medicine itself is no longer in use, replaced by another, which may be you will also fail to read. But it won't matter then because maybe, by that time, either your doctor has himself expired, or you have changed to someone else with a better handwriting.

Answer 4

It is stated in the Hippocrates Code that they should write in a prescribed (no pun intended) style. Joke.

I am amazed too. Actually, most of the time, I can read what they write. But it does take effort.

My guess is that the doctors think writing is such a mundane task compared with the more noble tasks of actually keeping people free from the effects of their illnesses. They write into their notes, ledgers, case files, etc. They do this in their clinics, as well as while moving about, checking patients from room to room, ward to ward, bed to bed. And they can not write these observations later, they need to do these on the spot. They also can not type these on keyboard computers. This process, therefore, becomes a necessary burden, but burden nonetheless. So they resort to the LAZY writing style.

Answer 5

Quite simple. You can't read your doctor's prescription because he's in a hurry to attend other patients like you. Usually they do not write legibly, i guess, because of that.

Answer 6

...michael, prescriptions are not intended for us (patients) to understand. what we can do is ask "doc, what exactly are you prescribing me?" and his answer would be something which we wouldn't understand anyways. so what's the use?

...but pharmacists will understand the prescription and it is his job to provide you with the appropriate med and the recommended dosage. this is computer-generated so there should be no problem with how it is written.

Answer 7

I think it is intended to be written like that so that the patients won't be able to abuse the prescribed drugs. You see, it's only the doctor and the pharmacist who understand the writing which is like a code letters for them.

Answer 8

It is a code for doctors to use. So you will never know what notes were made about you!

Answer 9

yah i noticed that too, almost all doctors have a very bad penmanship. i think they're using shorthand writing and only pharmacist or other docs can read :)

Answer 10

A precaution purposes.