In a significant move to enhance clarity and accessibility in medical documentation, the Orissa High Court has issued a directive mandating that all doctors in the state, including those in private hospitals and medical centers, write medical prescriptions, post-mortem reports, and medico-legal documents in legible handwriting or capital letters. This directive aims to address the longstanding issue of difficult-to-read medical handwriting, which has been a challenge for both the judiciary and the general public.
Justice SK Panigrahi of the Orissa High Court issued this directive to the Chief Secretary of the Odisha government, emphasizing the need for clear and understandable medical documentation. The order was a result of a petition filed by Rasananda Bhoi of Hindol in Dhenkanal district, following the snakebite death of his elder son, Souvagya Ranjan Bhoi. The court highlighted the importance of clarity in prescriptions, particularly in the names of medicines, to avoid any confusion or misinterpretation.
The court’s decision was influenced by the difficulty judicial officers face in comprehending the often “zig-zag” handwriting of doctors. Dr. Justice Sanjeeb Kumar Panigrahi, presiding over the case, noted,
“In many cases, the casual approach of most of the doctors while writing the post-mortem report is affecting the comprehension of medico-legal documents badly, and the judicial system finds it very difficult to read those letters and come to a definite conclusion.”
This issue is not new to the Orissa High Court. A similar order was passed in 2020, emphasizing that medical prescriptions should leave no room for uncertainty or misinterpretation. This earlier directive came about after a judge struggled to read a prescription submitted by a prisoner seeking interim bail to care for his ailing wife.
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The court’s recent directive is a step towards ensuring that medical documents are easily readable, thereby facilitating better judicial and public understanding. The order acknowledges the busy schedules and significant contributions of doctors, especially during the pandemic and other medical emergencies. However, it emphasizes the need for doctors to take extra care in their handwriting while prescribing medicines or writing medico-legal reports. This change is expected to reduce the unnecessary strain on the judicial system and improve the quality of healthcare documentation.
Counsel for the petitioner, Mr. P.K. Nayak, and Counsel for the State, Mr. G.R. Mohapatra, Addl. Standing Counsel, were present during the hearing. Following the reading of the opinion-sheet by the doctor, the court concluded that the petitioner’s son had indeed died of snakebite and directed him to approach the concerned Tahsildar for compensation.
This directive from the Orissa High Court is a significant step in bridging the gap between medical practice and judicial requirements, ensuring that essential medical documents are accessible and understandable to all.
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