What are the instructions from medical practitioners authorizing drug or device issuance to a patient called?

The correct term for the instructions given by medical practitioners to authorize the issuance of medication or devices to patients is prescriptions. A prescription serves as a formal document that details the specific medication to be dispensed, including the dosage, frequency, duration, and potentially other important information pertinent to the patient's treatment. It is a fundamental aspect of the healthcare system, allowing pharmacists to understand what the healthcare provider intends for the patient's therapy.

While referrals are important in healthcare, they typically involve directing a patient to another specialist for additional evaluation or treatment, rather than authorizing medication directly. Medication orders generally refer to instructions given within institutional settings, such as hospitals, specifically for medications administered to patients under their care and might not involve outpatient dispensing. Therapeutic guidelines, on the other hand, are sets of recommendations designed to inform treatment decisions for specific conditions but do not constitute an authorization for individual prescriptions.

Thus, prescriptions represent the most accurate term for the instructions related to the issuance of drugs and devices to patients.