Jasmine Rice/.

: the study of handwriting especially for the purpose of character analysis.

Should it be concerning that the majority of medical notes I attempt to read on clinical prac are verging on or completely illegible? Is it a problem that I have to refer to the route of administration and dosage to discern whether the physician has written up amoxycillin or aspirin?  

Perhaps the questionable practice of graphology can be utilized to discern whether the disorganized scrawl of a doctor reflects underlying thought processes. At this point, I’d like to mention that my handwriting is in no sense of the word, neat. A friend tilted her head at my writing the other day and asked if I can read it after I wrote it. I could. The question is somewhat valid as I do have a friend (aspiring psychiatrist) who can’t read his own notes. 

Anyway, accepting this as a massive overgeneralization, what do the common characteristics of medical handwriting say about the character of medical doctors, furthermore, should we be suspicious of a doctor with neat handwriting?

At times, medical notes can alternate between being methodically uneven and disorderly:

Methodically uneven: originality, inventiveness, creativity (This is almost like a learnt aversion to neatness.)

Disorderly (randomly uneven): disorder, entangled ideas and actions.

Pressure of the pen is generally very variable:

Off-and-on carved: to be goal-oriented, domineering, overbearing, independent. 

The supposed “modes of psychic energy channeling” show the energy of the person. Obviously. In medical notes, these include but are not limited to;

Short cut: abrupt decision making (Often takes the form of shorthand symbol similar to hieroglyphics. Sometimes includes helpful but slightly ambiguous drawings of surgical site.) 

Quick: speed (essential.)

Jerky: inner contradictions leading to decision taking difficulty, surliness, anger (bit harsh to be honest, I’d say indicative of stress.)

Dynamic: dynamism. Probably a good thing, I interpret this as being a “dynamite” (good) doctor.

The direction of the axial parts of letters tends to be “sinuous” which apparently means psychological penetration. Not sure about that one, but i can tell you that it is very rare to see parallel lines between “axial” letters in medical handwriting. This is a promising observation as parallel lines indicate a lack of empathy.

Conclusively, I have to doubt the validity of these claims due to a lack of substantial evidence to support these ideas. However, keep in mind that a doctor with neat writing and parallel axial letters within that writing probably can not be trusted.