Sig Question

[pharmerjohn]

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I apologize if this is a dumb question, but I can't seem to find the answer anywhere, so I'm hoping those with a better understanding than me can chime in on it. I got a prescription for an ointment from a doctor, and he wrote: "Apply to L and R foot bid."

The question is, should it be typed as "left and right foot" or "left and right feet"? I'm in a bit of a quandary, as either seems fine to me. 😕 I know it wouldn't affect patient therapy either way, but I just want to get it right.

P.S. I'm a tech, so go easy on me! 🙂

 

[owlegrad]

feet

 

[pharmerjohn]

feet

Por que? 😕

 

[dsoz]

Por que? 😕

If instead of feet, you use the word hands. Would you say apply to left and right hand or left and right hands?

Once you figure that one out, change hands back to feet.

 

[pharmerjohn]

If instead of feet, you use the word hands. Would you say apply to left and right hand or left and right hands?

Once you figure that one out, change hands back to feet.

That's what I thought as well, but another tech I talked to said the doctor was right by putting foot, as it ended on singular. That got me second guessing myself.

 

[clerkmaxwell]

Foot is technically correct, but feet is used conversationally. Better English perhaps to say apply to left foot and right foot. But like you said foot/feet- can use either in that example.

 

[pharmerjohn]

Foot is technically correct, but feet is used conversationally. Better English perhaps to say apply to left foot and right foot. But like you said foot/feet- can use either in that example.

Is "foot" technically correct because the sentence ends on singular? Or is there another reason that I'm not seeing?

I agree. "Left foot and right foot" would be better, but we're generally not advised to add words to a sig unless it would cause the sig to not make sense (e.g., "i/d" would be "take 1 tablet/capsule daily" instead of "one daily").

 

[clerkmaxwell]

Well, one doesn't have left and right feet. One has a left and right foot. But, foot/feet who gives a left or a right shizott.

 

[pharmerjohn]

Well, one doesn't have left and right feet. One has a left and right foot. But, foot/feet who gives a left or a right shizott.

I suppose...

Since either way is arguably correct, I guess I'll leave it however the MD writes it should I ever encounter another sig like that one. Thanks for slaking my curiosity! 🙂

 

[BenJammin]

What is the object of the sentence? The left foot and the right foot. We're not grouping them together, we're discussing them as separate entities. You only have one left foot and one right foot so it's "left and right foot" not "left and right feet".

Foot is correct.

 

[npage148]

"apply to both feet"

 

[trailerpark]

"apply to both foots"

 

[owlegrad]

Well, one doesn't have left and right feet. One has a left and right foot. But, foot/feet who gives a left or a right shizott.

You have a left foot and a right foot and together they are your feet.

I am going to page a podiatrist friend and see what he has to say.

 

[BenJammin]

"apply to both feet"

That would be correct as well. Both implies a plural noun with feet correctly being plural.

 

[pharmerjohn]

You have a left foot and a right foot and together they are your feet.

I am going to page a podiatrist friend and see what he has to say.

I didn't realize this question would create such a dichotomy of opinions. English is one crazy language...

"Ahem! How many pharmacists does it take to figure out a sig?" 😀 Sorry. Couldn't resist! 😛

 

[ldsrmdude]

You have a left foot and a right foot and together they are your feet.

I am going to page a podiatrist friend and see what he has to say.

As a podiatrist, my real question is if I say left foot and right foot, does that mean I can bill twice? Hmm, if so, I vote for left and right foot. 😀 Why the doctor didn't say "both feet" is beyond me. Maybe the patient also has front and back feet that don't need the medication. 😕 I would tend to agree with owlegrad that I would say feet.

 

[type b pharmD]

Saying left and right feet would seem appropriate if pt is a cat or dog.. I would go with foot, for humans, since they only have one of each