Struggling to Read Your Doctor’s Handwriting? Punjab & Haryana High Court Says You Deserve Better

We’ve all been there: you leave the doctor’s office, prescription in hand, only to stare at a jumble of handwriting that might as well be ancient hieroglyphs. It’s frustrating, confusing, and sometimes downright scary.

But the Punjab and Haryana High Court has your back. On August 27, 2025, Justice Jasgurpreet Singh Puri ruled that clear, legible medical prescriptions and diagnoses are part of your fundamental right under Article 21 of India’s Constitution, which protects the right to life and health.

Justice Puri put it bluntly: “Illegibility leads to ambiguity and confusion which can in turn take on a patient’s life or health.”

This isn’t just about decoding handwriting, it’s about your right to understand your treatment, make informed choices, and stay safe. No more guessing games at the pharmacy or worrying whether you’re getting the right medicine.

The court didn’t just highlight the problem; it laid out a roadmap for safer, clearer healthcare:

• Write It Clearly, Right Now: Doctors in Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh are required to write all handwritten prescriptions and diagnoses in ALL CAPS until digital systems take over. Civil surgeons have been directed to hold regular meetings to ensure compliance.

• Going Digital Soon: Punjab and Haryana have been asked to frame policies and move toward full digital prescriptions within about two years, with financial support to help smaller clinics upgrade. Chandigarh had already issued similar orders earlier this year.

  National Standards Coming: The Union Health Ministry has been directed to issue a gazette notification setting minimum standards for legible prescriptions, though no exact timeline has been given.

  Teaching Young Doctors: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has been asked to sensitize future doctors by incorporating training on legible handwriting and digital tools into medical education.

• Tech Boost at PGIMER: The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh has two years to implement its HIS-II e-prescription system.

Justice Puri also praised the medical profession, stating: “The court has the highest respect and regard for doctors and the medical profession. But the right to life and personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 encompasses the right to health, which further includes the right to know one’s legible medical prescription/diagnosis/medical documents and treatment.”

This major ruling started unexpectedly during a bail hearing in Haryana’s alleged job-scam rape case. When the medico-legal report was submitted, Justice Puri was stunned: “Not even a word or letter was legible.” That unreadable document sparked broader suo motu proceedings in 2024. The court then brought in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, PGIMER, and the Indian Medical Association (IMA).

This ruling is a huge win for patients across India. Experts say that clear prescriptions mean less stress in emergencies, fewer medication errors, and stronger trust between you and your doctor.

Justice Puri summed it up as “The problem of illegible handwriting creates a gap resulting in inefficiencies and further limits the potential benefits of digital health innovations and technology which is readily available.”

(Rh/Eth/VK/MSM)