On doctors

The article “Hey doctors! it is Greek and Latin to us” (Open Page, July 4) made me recall an incident that took place in my school. While distributing the English answer papers, the teacher asked “Who is Narasimhan?” Narasimhan stood up nervously. The teacher said “you have scribbled your answers … I am unable to make out anything” adding “you will make a good doctor.” The whole class burst into laughter.

D. Sethuraman , Chennai

I agree that doctor prescriptions should have more clarity. Most hospitals these days hand out typewritten prescriptions and discharge notes. The practice of using drug dispensation codes in Latin — like b.i.d., t.i.d., etc. — are already out. But it must be said that everyone is not expected to understand technical jargon. Only those in the medical and allied professions are familiar with them. When nuclear scientists say an atomic reactor has gone “critical,” a lay person may think the reactor has developed some serious problem. But it actually means the reactor has started functioning. Can nuclear scientists change the word for the sake of the uninformed? As it is, patients try to read too much into the difficult-to-understand investigation reports and become apprehensive. Medical jargon should continue, in their own interest. Nuances are best left to experts.

M.S. Prasad , Chennai

The responsibility of radiologists and pathologists is to communicate their reports to the referring clinician, not the layman. Only qualified doctors can understand medical terminologies. It is the duty of the clinician to explain and interpret the medical reports to the patient.

S. Pradeep ,

Thiruvananthapuram

The prescriptions of Dr. K.B. Krishnamohan, my professor of medicine, are highly informative. He often writes the usage guidelines in legible Telugu. I too have followed the practice throughout my career. All diagrammatic representations of tablets in circles and liquids in the form of spoons can be written down. ‘Morning,' ‘afternoon,' ‘evening,' ‘night,' ‘after food,' and ‘before food' can also be written down.

Although medical reports are meant for the understanding of clinicians, there is a definite need to simplify the jargon for the benefit of people.

Araveeti Ramayogaiah , Hyderabad

I have read that quite a few mishaps take place in the U.S. because of the dispensation of wrong medicines based on badly written prescriptions. I am sure this happens in India too. Handwriting should form part of the practical curriculum in the basic medicine degree course. Youngsters who plan for a medical career should consciously develop a flair for good handwriting.

M. Balakrishnan , Hyderabad