Question

Answer the questions below in a brief paragraph.

1. You review a prescription and find that you cannot determine whether the medication is Trileptal (an antiseizure medication) or Tylenol 3 (a narcotic pain reliever). What would the difference mean to the patient if the wrong drug were given? What should you do in this situation?

2. If most patients do not understand Latin, why do you think physicians write the signature in Latin?

Answer 1

1. You review a prescription and find that you cannot determine whether the medication is Trileptal (an antiseizure medication) or Tylenol 3 (a narcotic pain reliever). What would the difference mean to the patient if the wrong drug were given? What should you do in this situation?

The drug Trileptal ( Oxcarbazepine) is a drug belonging to class dibenzazepine anticonvulsants. They are used for the treatment of Epilepsy, Seizures, Bipolar disorder, etc whereas as Tylenol 3   is a opiod type of pain reliever (codenin) to relieve mild to moderate pain. If the wrong drug is given to patient with Epilepsy or Seizures we are at risk or severity of adverse effects and the adverse effects can be increased when Codeine is combined with Oxcarbazepine. In worst case scenario the patient can have life-threatening serious adverse reaction with wrong medication. In this situation we should immediately consult a experienced pharmacologist or senor physician and let them review the prescription and then and only then we recommeded the prescription drug for patient treatment. A consultation with a experienced and expert should always be sought as any confusion or mix-up can have life threatening consequences especially in healthcare settings and patient safety is the primary motto of providing the treatment.

2. If most patients do not understand Latin, why do you think physicians write the signature in Latin?

The three main reasons why medical professionals/physicians use Latin are:

1. Latin is a universally used language among medical professionals and easily understood by physicians all over the world just like a code system which can be used by all members without errors in interpretation.

2. Latin is concise as compared to another language and is less subjected to any erroneous interpretation.

3. Many early medical textbooks and knowledge base was in Latin and is even now used among the medical community to contribute and codify in a manner that has universal understanding.

Physicians write or sign in Latin so as to be more precise and convey accurate information is the minimal wording and Latin also acts as universal code among the medical professionals.