Indian courts have once again raised concerns over doctors’ illegible handwriting, calling for urgent reforms to prevent life-threatening medical errors. The Punjab and Haryana High Court recently ruled that a “legible medical prescription is a fundamental right,” warning that unclear writing can mean the difference between life and death. The court directed the government to include handwriting lessons in medical training, ensure prescriptions are written clearly in capital letters, and accelerate the rollout of digital prescription systems within two years.
This is not the first time an Indian court has called out the sloppy handwriting of doctors. Past instances include the Odisha High Court criticizing the “zigzag style” of prescriptions and the Allahabad High Court lamenting “shabby handwriting” that was nearly impossible to read. Globally, similar concerns have emerged in…
