‘Not A Single Word…’: High Court Judge Warns Doctors Over Poor Handwriting In Prescriptions

Last Updated:October 02, 2025, 13:47 IST

Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered doctors to write clear prescriptions, citing Article 21 with Justice Jasburpreet Singh Puri saying that illeligible prescriptions are a risk

The high court noted that patients have the right to legible medical prescriptions. (Representational Image)

In a strongly worded directive, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has ruled that patients are entitled to receive medical prescriptions that are clear and legible, underscoring that a doctor’s handwriting can directly impact a patient’s life.

The issue surfaced during the hearing of a bail plea in a case involving charges of rape, fraud and forgery. While examining the medico-legal report, Justice Jasburpreet Singh Puri found himself unable to read a single word. Recording his concern, the judge noted in his order, “The conscience of the court was shaken by the fact that not a single word or letter in the report was legible.” To illustrate the gravity of the matter, Justice Puri even attached a copy of the report with the verdict.

The court emphasised that a patient’s ability to understand medical instructions is embedded within the “right to life” under Article 21 of the Constitution.

The court went on to declare that doctors’ illegible handwriting poses a “threat to patients’ lives” and mandated that all prescriptions must be written in large, clear capital letters until a full-scale digital prescription system is introduced. Further, the court directed the government to incorporate handwriting training into the medical curriculum and roll out a nationwide digital system within two years.

Justice Puri said that when technology and computers are readily available, it is shocking that government doctors are still writing prescriptions by hand, which perhaps only a few chemists can read.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has responded to the order with cautious support. Dr Dilip Bhanushali, President of the IMA, told the BBC, “We are ready for a solution.” He explained that while urban hospitals and large towns have already transitioned to digital prescriptions, implementation in smaller towns and rural areas remains a challenge.

“”It’s a well-known fact that many doctors have poor handwriting, but that’s because most medical practitioners are very busy, especially in overcrowded government hospitals,” Dr Bhanushali acknowledged, adding, “”We have recommended to our members to follow the government guidelines and write prescriptions in bold letters that should be readable to both patients and chemists. A doctor who sees seven patients a day can do it, but if you see 70 patients a day, you can’t do it.”

With this landmark ruling, the High Court has made it clear that medical treatment should never be compromised by something as basic as handwriting.

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