Was He In Error?

A Prescriber writing a prescription

In my early years of practice, about a decade ago, I had an experience that taught me that it is unwise to follow the path of assumptions. Never assume to know something that you do not or a concept that you are not clear with. Doing this can lead to grave consequences.

I was working an evening shift in a retail pharmacy when a client came in with a prescription on which was written the order:

- Tabs Amovine i bd X 1/52.

Amovine (or Amovin as it is correctly written), is a brand of anti-infective medication by Evans Therapeutics, containing Amoxicillin and Clavulanic Acid, used for the treatment of bacterial infections.

Upon receipt of the prescription, I was not sure what to make of it, but then, I was inclined to interpret the order as follows:

- Tabs Avomine i bd X 1/52, all thanks to the style at which prescribers write prescription orders.

Amovine is a brand of antihistamine containing Promethazine which is used mainly for the management of nausea and vomiting. 

A few clues added to the prescription order would have made all the difference. For example:

- Tabs Amovine 625mg bd X 1/52,

Or

- Tabs Avomine 25mg bd X 1/52.

Am I trying to say that the prescriber was in error? Of course not. As a Pharmacist, it is either you know with utmost certainty what the order is or you find out from the prescribing Physician. The practice does not give room for assumptions as an error as slight as 2.4nanogram can be fatal.

It pays great dividends applying this principle to life: Never assume anything, and always seek clarity before making decisions. It was Bryan Davis who said; "Assumptions are unopened windows that foolish birds fly into, and their broken bodies are evidence gathered too late".