Bhubaneswar: In view of difficulties that occur while reading doctor prescriptions and medico-legal reports due to 'poor' handwriting, Odisha Government directed all doctors to write in legible handwriting.

The directive from the Health & Family Welfare Department came following the High Court order based on a writ petition filed by one Rasananda Bhoi alias Rasa in January this year.

As per the order, all medical practitioners in both government and private hospitals and clinics are instructed to write post-mortem report, prescription and medico-legal report in capital letters or legible handwriting or in typed form as per guidelines of National Medical Commission (Chapter 2-4B/Notification dated May 23, 2022) so that the handwriting does not create any confusion.

Following the instructions, the medico legal reports and post-mortem reports are to be written either in capital letters or in a typed form or in good legible handwriting to ensure appreciation of evidence in the judicial system and to be uploaded on Medico Legal Opinion System.

The High Court in its order on January 4, 2024, had directed the Chief Secretary of Odisha to issue direction to all the doctors of the state to write the post-mortem report and prescription in capital letter or in legible handwriting.

"Moreover, the tendency of writing such zig zag handwriting, which cannot be read by any common man or by judicial officers, has become a fashion among the doctors of the state. Substantial number of doctors in the state resort to such handwriting which cannot be read by any ordinary person. In such view of the matter, the Chief Secretary of the state is directed to issue a circular to all the Medical Centres, Private Clinics and Medical Colleges and Hospitals directing them to write in proper handwriting or in a type of form when they are prescribing medicine or writing some medico-legal reports," the Court stated while disposing the petition.