An Indian court has directed doctors to stop writing illegible prescriptions and instead use large, clear handwriting or digital formats, citing serious risks to patient safety.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court issued the order after a judge found a medico-legal report to be completely unintelligible. “Not a single word or letter in the medical report could be read,” the judge remarked.
The court further recommended that handwriting training be introduced in medical school curricula and instructed the government to make digital prescriptions mandatory within two years.
Health experts note that illegible handwriting has long been a challenge in India, often resulting in dangerous medication errors.
The Indian Medical Association acknowledged the issue, pointing out that while digital prescriptions are now common among urban doctors, handwritten notes remain widespread in rural and semi-urban areas.
