Orissa HC directs doctors to write post-mortem reports, prescriptions in capital letters or in legible handwriting

The Orissa High Court has ordered the State government to issue a directive to all doctors to write post-mortem reports and prescriptions in capital letters or in legible handwriting. “In many cases, the casual approach of most of doctors while writing the post-mortem report is affecting the comprehension of medico-legal documents badly, and the judicial system finds it very difficult to read those letters and come to a definite conclusion,” observed Orissa High Court judge Justice S.K. In the order, Justice Panigrahi mentioned, “The court directs the Chief Secretary to issue a direction to all the doctors of the State to write the post-mortem report and prescription in capital letters or in legible handwriting.” “The tendency of writing in 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. Hence, it is expected that doctors, who are dealing with medico-legal issues and writing casually with very poor handwriting, are required to change their attitude and write either in capital letters or in a typed form or in good handwriting so that the judicial system does not suffer from unnecessary fatigue in reading their handwriting,” the judge remarked.