Orissa High Court directs doctors to write names of drugs in legible manner

Orissa High Court directs doctors to write names of drugs in legible manner

It is generally seen that what doctors write on the prescription of patients they either understand the same or the chemists giving medicines, patients do not understand the writing of doctors at all. Due to ambiguous handwriting of doctors , understanding the name of the medicine on the prescription of the drug proves to be  a challenge for many people.

Orissa High Court has advised physicians working in the state’s government hospitals and private hospitals to  write the name of drugs in capital letters or in a legible manner that will help in easily deciphering them . High court made this observation while granting a bail to Krishna Pada Mandal, who was the primary accused in a Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) act 1985.

But during hearing of a bail petition, Orissa high court judge Justice S.K. Panigrahi said that the physician community should make an effort to write prescription in a manner that is easily understandable.  He further contended that ,

“Unreadable handwriting of doctors creates unnecessary trouble for patients, pharmacists, police, prosecutors, judges, who have to contend with such medical reports. Doctors report, OPD slip, post mortem report, injury report etc.  What is necessary is legible and fully understood. Medical prescriptions should not require ambiguity or interpretation. “

The doctors will now have to write the name of the medicine in capital letters on the prescription and along with the generic name of the medicine. Dr. K.K Aggarwal of  Indian Medical Association said that, the Union  health ministry is going to implement a gadget notification very soon,  after which this rule will be applicable across the country.

The doctors have welcomed the decision of the government and said that of course it will increase their work but this will benefit the patients.

The central government has amended the Indian Medical Council Regulation 2002 , according to this doctors are being directed to write the name and generic name of the medicine in capital letters .

Case Title – Krushna Pada Mandal vs. State of Orissa

Corum–  Justice S.K.Panigrahi

BY- PRIYA KUMARI

Orissa High Court directs doctors to write names of drugs in legible manner