Indian Court Calls for Clear Handwriting from Doctors to Ensure Patient Safety

Wed Oct 22 2025 01:49:27 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a landmark ruling, the Punjab and Haryana High Court in India has mandated that doctors must improve their handwriting, emphasizing that legible prescriptions are a fundamental right to avoid potentially life-threatening mistakes.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court of India has ordered doctors to write clearly, stating that illegible prescriptions pose serious risks to patient safety. The court highlighted that clear handwriting is essential for effective medical treatment. This decision follows a case highlighting the consequences of unreadable medical documents, and the court has directed that digital prescriptions be implemented within two years. Amid ongoing issues of poor handwriting among healthcare professionals, efforts to address this critical aspect of medical practice are intensifying.

At a time when most people use keyboards to write, does handwriting really matter?

Yes, say Indian courts, if the writer is a doctor.

Jokes around the notoriously bad handwriting of many doctors that can only be deciphered by pharmacists are common. However, the recent order from the Punjab and Haryana High Court emphasizes the criticality of clear handwriting, stating that legible medical prescription is a fundamental right that can make a difference between life and death.

This ruling emerged during a case involving allegations of serious misconduct. Justice Jasgurpreet Singh Puri found a medico-legal report incomprehensible, which prompted his remarks on the importance of readable prescriptions.

The court criticized the lack of legibility in medical documents and proposed incorporating handwriting training in medical school curriculums, setting a deadline for transitioning to digital prescriptions.

Even as cities shift towards digital solutions, rural areas still struggle with handwritten prescriptions, drawing attention to the disparities in healthcare delivery.

Public health advocates underscore that ambiguous prescriptions can result in tragic outcomes, urging for consistent standards in prescription writing.

Historical precedents highlight ongoing concerns over poor handwriting in medicine, with past cases bringing the issue to light. Though studies contest the stereotype of doctors having the worst handwriting, the continued prevalence of misinterpreted prescriptions remains alarming.

The widespread call for reform reflects the urgent need to prioritize patient safety through clear communication in medical practices, reinforcing the foundational role of clarity in healthcare.