An illegible prescription by an Indian doctor. Image – social media.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ruled that clear handwriting in medical prescriptions is a “fundamental right,” after finding a medico-legal report in a rape case illegible.
Justice Jasgurpreet Singh Puri said unreadable prescriptions could mean the difference between life and death, ordering all doctors to write in capital letters until digitised prescriptions are implemented within two years.
The court also recommended handwriting lessons in medical school. While many urban doctors have moved to digital prescriptions, rural areas still rely heavily on handwritten notes.
Past Indian courts have raised similar concerns, with global examples showing misread prescriptions leading to severe harm or death.
