prescribir

Prescribir is a Spanish verb with dual meanings in everyday and professional use. It can mean to authorize or instruct the use of medication or therapy, and it can also mean that a right or claim becomes unenforceable due to the passage of time. The word derives from the Latin praescribere, “to write beforehand.”

In the medical context, prescribir refers to a licensed health professional issuing a prescription for medicines, treatments, or diagnostic tests. A prescription (la prescripción) typically specifies the patient, the substance or therapy, dosage, route of administration, frequency, duration, and any cautions or contraindications. Prescriptions may be written or electronic, and certain drugs are subject to regulatory controls. In many Spanish-speaking regions, recetar is a common synonym, with prescribir often appearing in formal or specialized medical language.

In law, prescribir denotes the extinction of a right or civil or criminal claim after a prescribed period, meaning the claim can no longer be brought to court. The prescripción serves to provide legal certainty and finality. This concept is distinct from caducidad, which in some jurisdictions implies an automatic termination of rights independent of action taken. The length and conditions of the prescriptive period vary by country and by type of action, such as debts, contracts, or delictual claims.

Overall, prescribir encompasses both medical prescription practices and the legal concept of time-limited rights.