Orissa High Court Directs Doctors to Write Prescriptions, Reports in Capital Letters

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has instructed the state’s health department to ensure that all medical practitioners produce clear and legible prescriptions, post-mortem reports, and medico-legal documents. Justice SK Panigrahi issued the directive to the Chief Secretary of the Odisha government, urging widespread circulation to medical facilities, private clinics, and medical colleges.

The court’s decision came after a petition filed by Rasananda Bhoi of Hindol in Dhenkanal district, who lost his elder son, Souvagya Ranjan Bhoi, to a snakebite. The directive underscores the importance of clear handwriting in prescriptions to enhance clarity in medication names.

The High Court expressed concern over the casual approach of many doctors in drafting post-mortem reports, emphasizing that unclear handwriting hampers the comprehension of medico-legal documents, posing challenges for the judicial system and the public. The court noted that the prevalent “zig-zag” handwriting style among doctors makes it difficult for both the general public and the judiciary to decipher important documents.

This directive echoes a similar order issued by the Orissa High Court in 2020, emphasising that medical prescriptions should be unambiguous and leave no room for uncertainty or interpretation. The 2020 order was prompted by a situation where a judge found it challenging to read a prescription submitted by a prisoner seeking interim bail to attend to his ailing wife.

In both instances, the High Court’s directives aim to improve accessibility, clarity, and comprehension of medical documents, ensuring a smoother process for both the judiciary and the public.