QUESTION: Why do doctors always write their prescriptions in Latin? My guess is that it is to keep the mystery in medicine and to keep patients confused, but I suppose you will have another point of view.
What is it?
ANSWER: Yes, I do have another point of view, and I am happy to share it with you.
Actually physicians do not use a lot of Latin in writing their prescriptions these days.
They did in "the good old days" when pharmacists prepared prescriptions by mixing various powders and liquids requested by the physician.
But today, most of this preparation takes place at the drug manufacturing plant, so that the physician merely names the medicine and its dose, specifies tablet, capsule or liquid, all in English.
However there is one part of the prescription that gives the directions for the patient that still may seem a bit confusing.
It's called the "sig.," from the Latin word that means "to write," and contains a great many abbreviations which simplify writing the prescription but still clearly indicates the instructions to be included on the label.
Its a lot easier writing "a.
c." (for the Latin ante cibos) than "take the medication before meals", but it means exactly the same thing to those who know the abbreviations.
And that takes the mystery out of that.
But it still doesn't improve the handwriting of many doctors, which may be the reason you still can't decipher it!
The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician.
Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.
