Handwritten prescriptions have historically been a staple of medical observe, however when legibility is poor, they will create misunderstandings, and typically, grave hazard. “There have been actual instances through which a affected person took the mistaken remedy or mistaken dose just because the script was illegible,” mentioned Dr Amit Saraf, director, inside drugs, Jupiter Hospital, Thane.One such case concerned a 34-year-old man with a throat an infection. His physician prescribed an antibiotic, however the pharmacist misinterpret the word and distributed a robust steroid as an alternative. “Inside two days, the an infection worsened, and he developed extreme abdomen ache and weak spot. One other physician later admitted he too struggled to learn the unique prescription. The affected person needed to be hospitalised for IV antibiotics earlier than recovering,” recalled Dr Manjusha Agarwal, senior marketing consultant, inside drugs, Gleneagles Hospital Parel, Mumbai.
In one other occasion, a neurosurgeon prescribed azidothymidine (AZT) for HIV prophylaxis after a needle-stick damage. The illegible script led the pharmacist to provide azathioprine, a strong immunosuppressant. “For a month, the neurosurgeon unknowingly took the mistaken drug, developed high-grade fever, and was discovered to have pancytopenia, a poisonous impact of azathioprine. A life-saving prescription turned life-threatening,” mentioned Dr Kumar.
Even small errors can show harmful. A affected person admitted for peripheral neuropathy was prescribed 0.5 mg alprazolam at night time. The physician wrote “.5 mg” as an alternative of “0.5 mg”. The decimal level was missed, and the affected person was given 5 mg as an alternative. “She was later present in a semi-comatose state from extreme sedation, all because of a lacking zero,” Dr Kumar identified.
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These are usually not remoted incidents. They mirror a systemic subject: unclear handwriting can result in deadly drug errors. “Prescriptions are supposed to heal, however when written carelessly, they will typically hurt. Illegible handwriting in medical observe shouldn’t be a trivial matter; it might probably result in harmful errors with devastating penalties for sufferers,” described Dr Kumar in an interplay with indianexpress.com.
What do medical doctors need to say? (Photograph: Getty Photos/Thinkstock)
Even medical professionals typically misread scripts, delaying remedy or, in uncommon instances, injuring sufferers. “A easy mix-up of letters or dosage directions can alter the complete course of remedy,” famous one other doctor who didn’t want to be named.
The judiciary has additionally intervened. The Punjab and Haryana Excessive Courtroom just lately held {that a} legible prescription is a “basic proper” since it may be the distinction between life and loss of life. Dr Dilip Bhanushali, president of the Indian Medical Affiliation (IMA), informed BBC that whereas poor handwriting is widespread, particularly in overcrowded authorities hospitals, the affiliation has suggested members to comply with pointers and write in block letters. “A health care provider who sees seven sufferers a day can do it, however if you happen to see 70 a day, you possibly can’t,” he admitted.
Shifting to digital prescriptions
To counter the dangers, many hospitals are shifting in direction of digital prescribing. “Medical doctors now enter prescriptions into a pc or pill, which generates a typed model. That is frequent in city centres and slowly spreading to smaller clinics as nicely,” defined Dr Saraf.Story continues beneath this advert
The IMA has repeatedly emphasised that prescriptions must be typed or written in block letters. “Typing prescriptions is straightforward patient-safety hygiene,” mentioned Dr Karuna Malhotra, aesthetic doctor and cosmetologist, Beauty Pores and skin and Homeo Clinic, New Delhi.
Why typing issues
Typed prescriptions remove ambiguity. They make drug names, dosages, and frequencies clear for each pharmacists and sufferers. “This reduces the chance of errors, saves time, builds belief, and creates a trackable digital report for future reference,” Dr Saraf famous.
Incorrect medicines can have excessive results (Photograph: Getty Photos/Thinkstock)
“In drugs, readability shouldn’t be optionally available; it’s a matter of life and loss of life,” Dr Kumar reiterated.
How do pharmacists deal with messy handwriting?
Pharmacists typically depend on expertise and context to decipher illegible prescriptions, utilizing the affected person’s prognosis and commonplace drug decisions for the situation to make educated guesses. When doubtful, they place clarification calls to the prescriber — a course of that’s frequent and time-consuming — or test the affected person’s prior remedy historical past to match the possible drug. To cut back dangers, pharmacies additionally use tall-man lettering and particular labelling for look-alike or sound-alike medication, together with barcode scanning, cross-checks, and affected person counselling earlier than handover. Regardless of these safeguards, pharmacists warning that errors are solely a misinterpret away, making it important to go solely to a licensed pharmacy, ideally one really helpful by the attending physician, as Dr Karuna Malhotra suggested.
What can sufferers do?
Sufferers, too, play a job in staying protected:
– Double-check prescriptions with the pharmacist.
– Ask questions if handwriting is unclear.
– Request a typed or digital copy at any time when potential.Story continues beneath this advert
“Utilizing typed prescriptions is a simple and environment friendly manner to make sure security, ease of entry, and reliability in remedy,” mentioned Dr Saraf.
DISCLAIMER: This text is predicated on info from the general public area and/or the consultants we spoke to. All the time seek the advice of your well being practitioner earlier than beginning any routine.
