The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed doctors to write prescriptions and diagnosis notes in capital letters until computerised or typed prescriptions become the norm, observing that legible medical records form an essential part of a patient’s right to health under Article 21 of the Constitution.
The directive came after the court, while hearing a rape case, found itself unable to decipher a single word from a medico-legal report due to the illegible handwriting of doctors. Taking suo motu cognisance, Justice Jasgurpreet Singh Puri stressed that illegible handwriting can endanger patients’ lives and compromise their right to know the treatment being administered.
The bench remarked that in an age of digital health and artificial intelligence, legible prescriptions are indispensable to safeguard citizens’ fundamental rights. It also suggested that the National Medical Commission (NMC) should include the importance of clear handwriting in prescriptions as part of the medical curriculum and emphasised the need to prioritise digital or typed prescriptions across the country.
Noting that the right to health includes the right to know one’s medical diagnosis, documents, and treatment, the Court said a comprehensive policy must be framed to ensure complete computerisation of prescriptions within two years. It further directed that financial assistance be provided to doctors and healthcare establishments wherever needed.
The bench observed that illegible prescriptions lead to ambiguity and confusion, which can endanger lives. “This is not about replacing doctors’ expertise with technology but ensuring patients’ safety and rights,” the Court noted, while also acknowledging the dedication of doctors to public service.
The order makes it clear that until computerisation becomes standard, doctors in Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh must write all prescriptions and diagnosis notes in capital letters to protect patients’ fundamental rights.
