It is commonly observed that the handwriting of doctors is often difficult to decipher, leading some to compare it to chicken scratch. This raises the question of why their handwriting, particularly on patient prescriptions, can be challenging to read.
One explanation put forth is that doctors intentionally write in a way that protects the confidentiality of their patients’ information. However, it is important to critically examine the validity of this claim.
Prescription is not for patients
The prescription is primarily intended for healthcare professionals, such as pharmacists, rather than patients themselves. It serves as a written document that allows pharmacists to accurately dispense medications, ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations, while also considering the individual needs of the patient.
Caution advised
The intentional illegibility of the doctor’s letter on a patient’s prescription is done as a security measure. This is to prevent unauthorized reproduction or misuse by individuals. It is also done to avoid potential harm that may arise from misuse. It is important to remember that the prescription of any medication is based on a diagnosis or evaluation of the patient’s condition. For example, cough medicine prescribed for children may differ from that prescribed for adults, especially if the nature of the cough is different.
A lot of writing is required
Extensive writing is a crucial aspect of a doctor’s responsibilities due to the nature of their work in the medical field. In particular, when engaging in private discussions or requiring documentation from a patient’s medical history or records, written proof becomes essential.
The demanding nature of their profession necessitates that doctors dedicate significant amounts of time, often working 10-12 hours per day, to writing. This can be particularly challenging when relying on manual handwriting, as it can lead to a decrease in the quality of their writing. Furthermore, physicians also experience fatigue, particularly in the muscles of their hands.
Limited time
Due to the high number of patients and diverse range of ailments they handle, many doctors experience significant workloads. This often results in time constraints when it comes to effectively communicating with patients or their guardians about their conditions and treatment plans, with only 15-20 minutes available for each interaction.
Additionally, doctors must allocate time to accurately document and prescribe medications for their patients, which can lead to rushed or poorly written instructions. Given the need to attend to other patients, these tasks must be completed within a limited timeframe.
It is important to note that certain medical abbreviations, such as QD/qd (once a day), BID/bid (twice a day), or TID/tid (three times a day), can be difficult to fully write out in Latin (thrice a day). Physicians often find it faster and more convenient to type these terms rather than spell them out in their entirety. As an example, “Mg” is commonly used to represent milligrams.
Also, it is worth mentioning that many pharmacies require the doctor’s license number, such as S2, for controlled substances and psychotropic medications. This is done to ensure proper record-keeping and due to challenges in deciphering physicians’ handwriting.
