DOCTOR’S WRITING CAUSE OF DEATH

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3462, 25 September 1926, Page 10

DOCTOR’S WRITING CAUSE OF DEATH

HANDWRITINGS DISCUSSED BY UMVKRSITY COUNCIL. A PROBLEM OP' LEGIBILITY. DUN KITIN', Wednesday. A lot tor from Mr John Puller. o( Sydney, complaining of tin* writing of doctors in their prescriptions for medicine, came before the meeting of the University Council yesterday. Mr Puller referred to :r case where u chemist had failed to read correctly a prescription, with fatal results to a ha by. lie thought that medical students should be compelled to pass an examination in writing. The chairman said it, was suggested, apparently, that the council should take steps to get doctors to write their prescriptions legibly. He understood that the comparative illegibility was to safeguard against rash action by the general public. The chairman added that ho had recently read tin article by Lady Sybil Grant, in which she stated that in her whole life site had only known one, lay person who could read medical proscriptions, anti she accounted for this ability by tiic fact that he was the son of a specialist. Sho also added very significantly that the person who had had this accomplishment was now dead. (Laughter.) Hr. Macdonald said that on one occasion a person had received a letter from Sydney Smith, but he could not rca,d it and had shown it to a friend, who had suggested he should show it to a. chemist as they could read anything. The letter was handed over to the chemist and when he was waited on later he said, "Here you are,” and handed over a bottle of medicine. (Laughter.) The prescription which had caused (ho death was handed round and it was stated that the writing was particularly good. In this instance, however. the chemist had read 30 minims instead of half a minim.

Dr. Bonham: Is it suggested that we should set up a chair of handwriting? The lotctr was received.