Indian Court Mandates Doctors to Improve Handwriting for Patient Safety

Tue Oct 14 2025 15:36:34 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a significant ruling, an Indian court emphasizes the necessity for doctors to ensure clear and legible handwriting to avoid medical errors. The Punjab and Haryana High Court have declared legible prescriptions as a fundamental right for patients, highlighting the potential life-threatening consequences of illegible medical documentation.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ruled that doctors must write prescriptions clearly, stating that legible writing is a fundamental right of patients. This ruling highlights ongoing issues with the legibility of medical prescriptions in India, which could lead to serious healthcare errors. Furthermore, the court has instructed the government to include handwriting lessons in medical education and implement digitized prescriptions within two years.

In a notable ruling, the Punjab and Haryana High Court in India has emphasized the critical importance of legible handwriting in medical prescriptions, declaring it a fundamental right for patients. The court's decision comes amid rising concerns about the impact of illegible prescriptions on patient safety and healthcare outcomes.

The ruling arose during a case unrelated to handwriting, where Justice Jasgurpreet Singh Puri noted the incomprehensible nature of a medico-legal report from a government doctor, stating, It shook the conscience of this court as not even a word or a letter was legible. The court recognized that unclear prescriptions can have severe consequences, potentially jeopardizing patient health.

To address this issue, the court has mandated that all doctors write prescriptions in capital letters and urged the introduction of handwriting lessons into medical school curricula. It is also pressing for a transition to digitized prescriptions within two years, citing the necessity for clarity as technology becomes more accessible.

Dr. Dilip Bhanushali, president of the Indian Medical Association, acknowledged the challenge, emphasizing the busy schedules of doctors in government hospitals. While he reported improvements in digital prescriptions in urban areas, he acknowledged ongoing difficulties in rural regions, where many practitioners still rely on handwritten notes.

Reports of misunderstandings arising from illegible orders highlight the seriousness of this issue. In 2014, a campaign led by pharmacist Chilukuri Paramathama gained traction following a tragic case where a child died due to a misinterpreted prescription.

Overall, the court's new standards reflect a critical shift towards enhancing patient rights and safety through clearer communication. As the medical community adapts to these mandates, the focus on legibility may prevent future tragedies stemming from poor handwriting.