Pages

Friday, January 12, 2024

Doctors must write in capital letters: Court to Odisha, flags ‘zig-zag’ writing The Orissa High Court issued a directive asking the doctors of the state as well as private hospitals and medical centres to ensure that prescriptions, post-mortem reports and medico-legal documents are written in legible handwriting or capital letters.INDIA TODAY JAN 8 2024

 

The Orissa High Court has directed the state's health department to ensure that all doctors write medical prescriptions, post-mortem reports and medico-legal documents in clear and legible handwriting or capital letters.

The directive was issued by Justice SK Panigrahi to the Chief Secretary of Odisha government, asking for the same to be circulated to all medical centres, private clinics, and medical colleges for better clarity and enhanced accessibility for both the judiciary and the public.

The court issued the order after hearing a petition filed by Rasananda Bhoi of Hindol in Denkanal district, following the death of his elder son, Souvagya Ranjan Bhoi, due to snakebite. The directive emphasises that clear handwriting should be followed while writing prescriptions so that there is clarity in the names of medicines.


"In many cases, the casual approach of most of the doctors while writing the post-mortem report is affecting the comprehension medico-legal documents badly and the judicial system finds it very difficult to read those letters and come to a definite conclusion," the High Court noted.

The court said that following a "zig-zag" handwriting has become a norm among doctors, which makes it difficult for common man and the judiciary to read those documents.

A similar order was passed by the Orissa High Court in 2020. At the time, the judge stated that a medical prescription should not leave any room for uncertainty or interpretation. It was passed after the judge found it difficult to read a prescription submitted by a prisoner seeking interim bail for a month to take care of his ailing wife.


No comments:

Post a Comment