Bhubaneswar: Following the instruction of Orissa High Court, Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena today asked all doctors, Medical Centres, Private Clinics and Medical Colleges and Hospitals to write in proper handwriting or in a type of form when they are prescribing medicine or writing some medico-legal reports.
In an order issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department, Chief Secretary Shri Jena said, “In many cases, the casual approach of most of the doctors while writing the post-mortem report is affecting the comprehension medico-legal documents badly and the judicial system finds it very difficult to read those letters and come to a definite conclusion.”
Hence, the HC directed the Chief Secretary to issue directions 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, he said.
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 HC had directed the Chief Secretary 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, read the order.
“The medico legal reports & post-mortem reports are to be written either in capital letter or in a typed form or in good legible handwriting to ensure appreciation of evidence in the judicial system and to be uploaded MLOS,” Shri Jena said.
In its order, the High Court said it is aware of the fact that the duty schedules of medical professionals are very busy and taxing and finding time to write something comfortably often hinders their capacity to examine more and more patients within the stipulated time.
This court appreciated the services rendered by the medical professional during the COVID-19 period or during any kind of emergency situation. But, at the same time it is generally felt that the medical prescription and medico-legal documents are written in bad handwriting which affects the quality of appreciation of evidence in the judicial system.
Hence, the court expected that any 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 letter or in a typed form or in good handwriting so that the judicial system does not suffer from unnecessary fatigue in reading their handwriting.
Though from time to time it has been instructed to prescribe in legitimate clear handwriting reflecting generic name it is observed that the instruction is not carried out by many of the medical officers, the HC had instructed.
