Illegible handwriting

It is important to question any order that is unclear. This includes unclear directions for the administration of the drug, illegible handwriting on the primary care provider s order sheet, or a drug dose that is higher or lower than the dosages given in approved references. 

Unless otherwise instracted, all reports should be prepared on Sj-in. X 11-in. paper with reasonable margins on all sides. The pages should be stapled together or bound in a folder. Legibility is absolutely essential. Double-spaced word-processed reports are best, but handwritten reports submitted in ink on wide-line ruled paper are acceptable unless you are cursed with illegible handwriting. Crossing out and the insertion of corrections are permissible, but try to keep the report as a whole reasonably neat. 

Pharmacies and physicians will need to spend less time contacting each other and insurance companies to overcome formulary restrictions and problems found upon drug utilization review, and to clarify illegible handwriting. 

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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