Handwriting, prescription

For all controlled drugs, prescriptions must be signed and dated by the prescriber and the following particulars included in the prescriber s own handwriting name and address of patient, form and strength of preparation as appropriate, total quantity in both words and figures and dose. 

Because even skilled individuals can misread good handwriting, a system of independent double-checks for order/prescription transcription should be in place in which several individuals interpret and transcribe... 

A doctor wrote a prescription for isosorbide ninitrate 20 mg 6-hourly but because of the illegibility of the handwriting the pharmacist dispensed felodipine in the same dose (maximum daily dose 10 mg). The patient died and a court ordered the doctor and pharmacist to pay compensation of 450 000 to the family. Charatan F 1999 British Medical Journal 319 1456. 

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