Odisha Govt’s Mandate: Clarity in Medical Documentation for Better Understanding

Bhubaneswar: Recognizing the persistent challenges posed by illegible handwriting in medical documents, the Odisha Government has taken a decisive step to ensure clarity. A recent directive from the Health & Family Welfare Department now requires all doctors, whether in government or private hospitals, to write in clear and legible script when preparing post-mortem reports, prescriptions, and medico-legal documents.

This significant move follows a High Court order prompted by concerns raised in a writ petition filed by Rasananda Bhoi, also known as Rasa, in January of this year.

According to the order, medical practitioners in both government and private hospitals and clinics must write post-mortem reports, prescriptions, and medico-legal reports in capital letters or legible handwriting, or in typed form, adhering to the guidelines set by the National Medical Commission (Chapter 2-4B/Notification dated May 23, 2022). This step is aimed at preventing any confusion arising from the handwriting.

Following these guidelines, medico-legal reports and post-mortem reports must be presented either in capital letters, typed format, or in a clear, legible handwriting. This measure ensures better understanding of evidence within the judicial system and mandates uploading documents on the Medico Legal Opinion System.

The High Court, in its order on January 4, 2024, directed the Chief Secretary of Odisha to issue instructions to all doctors in the state, urging them to write post-mortem reports and prescriptions in capital letters or legible handwriting.

The court expressed concern over the prevalent trend among doctors in the state to adopt illegible and unreadable handwriting, making it challenging for both the common man and judicial officers to comprehend. In light of this, the Chief Secretary has been directed to issue a circular to all medical centers, private clinics, medical colleges, and hospitals, urging them to adopt clear and proper handwriting or use typed forms when prescribing medication or drafting medico-legal reports.