In view of difficulties that occur while reading doctors’ prescriptions and medico-legal reports due to ‘poor’ handwriting, the Odisha Government has directed all doctors to write in legible handwriting.
The directive from the Health & Family Welfare Department came following a High Court order based on a writ petition filed by one Rasananda Bhoi alias Rasa this month.
As per the order, all medical practitioners in both government and private hospitals and clinics are instructed to write postmortem report, prescription and medico-legal report in capital letters or legible handwriting or in typed form as per guidelines of the National Medical Commission dated May 23, 2022 so that the handwriting does not create any confusion.
Following the instructions, the medico legal reports and postmortem reports are to be written either in capital letters or in a typed form or in good legible handwriting to ensure appreciation of evidence in the judicial system and to be uploaded on the Medico Legal Opinion System.
The High Court in its order on January 4, 2024, directed the Chief Secretary of Odisha to issue direction to all the doctors to write the postmortem report and prescription in capital letter or in legible handwriting.
“Moreover, the tendency of writing such zigzag handwriting, which cannot be read by any common man or by judicial officers, has become a fashion among the doctors of the state. Substantial number of doctors in the state resort to such handwriting which cannot be read by any ordinary person. In such view of the matter, the Chief Secretary of the state is directed to issue a circular to all the Medical Centres, Private Clinics and Medical Colleges and Hospitals directing them to write in proper handwriting or in a type of form when they are prescribing medicine or writing some medico-legal reports,” the court stated.