Introduction
In a significant step toward ensuring patient rights and healthcare transparency, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has declared that patients have a fundamental right to legible medical prescriptions under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Justice Jasgurpreet Singh Puri, while delivering the judgment on August 27, 2025, emphasized that the Right to Life and Personal Liberty includes the Right to Health, and consequently, the Right to Know one’s diagnosis and treatment in a clear and legible manner.
The Court also directed the National Medical Commission (NMC) to take proactive steps to inculcate the importance of clear handwriting in medical prescriptions as part of the curriculum in medical colleges across India. This ruling not only strengthens patient rights but also addresses a long-standing issue that has often jeopardized medical care: the illegibility of doctors’ handwriting.
Background of the Case
The case arose when the High Court, during the hearing of a bail plea, noticed that a medico-legal report was illegible. Taking suo motu cognizance, the Court held that patients have the right to know their prescriptions and medical documents.
Despite the Court requesting assistance from the Indian Medical Association (IMA), no representation was made on behalf of the doctors’ body. However, the Court continued its deliberations and eventually delivered a judgment that now has implications for both doctors and patients across India.
Court’s Key Observations
Justice Puri’s ruling made several important observations:
- Article 21 and Right to Health
- The Court held that the Right to Life and Personal Liberty under Article 21 encompasses the Right to Health, which further includes the right to know one’s legible medical prescription, diagnosis, and treatment.
- Capital Letters Until Digital Prescriptions Are Adopted
- Doctors in Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh have been directed to write prescriptions in capital letters until computerized or typed prescriptions become the norm.
- Policy for Digitalization
- The Court asked state governments and the UT to frame a comprehensive policy for digital/typed prescriptions within two years, with financial assistance provided to doctors and clinical establishments wherever required.
- Illegibility as a Health Hazard
- The Court noted that illegible prescriptions lead to ambiguity, confusion, and medical errors, which can endanger patient lives.
- Technology and Patient Empowerment
- In today’s era of digital health innovations and artificial intelligence, patients increasingly rely on prescriptions to cross-check information online. Illegible handwriting not only limits this but also obstructs informed consent and broader access to healthcare.
Directions Issued by the Court
- Doctors must write prescriptions in capital letters until digitization becomes feasible.
- States of Punjab and Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh must take sincere steps toward computerization of medical prescriptions within two years.
- The National Medical Commission must include training in clear handwriting and digital prescription practices in the medical curriculum.
- Governments should explore financial assistance mechanisms for clinics and doctors to adopt digital systems.
Broader Context: Previous High Court Directions
This is not the first time Indian courts have raised concerns about illegible medical prescriptions:
- Orissa and Uttarakhand High Courts had earlier issued similar directions to ensure clarity in prescriptions.
- In 2018, the Allahabad High Court went a step further, imposing a fine of ₹5,000 on a state doctor for producing a medico-legal report with “shabby handwriting.”
The Punjab and Haryana High Court judgment, however, is unique in that it elevates the issue to the level of a fundamental right under Article 21, giving it constitutional recognition.
Why Legible Prescriptions Matter
- Patient Safety
- Illegible prescriptions are one of the leading causes of medication errors, sometimes leading to serious harm or even fatalities.
- Right to Informed Consent
- Patients cannot give valid consent to treatment if they do not know what medications have been prescribed.
- Access to Digital Health Resources
- With the rise of telemedicine and AI-powered health apps, patients often verify prescriptions online. Illegibility obstructs this process.
- Accountability and Record-Keeping
- Clear prescriptions ensure accountability in medical practice and help in legal proceedings where medical records are crucial.
Role of Technology in Healthcare Transparency
The Court strongly emphasized the role of technology in modern healthcare. Typed or digital prescriptions not only solve the problem of illegible handwriting but also:
- Integrate easily with Electronic Health Records (EHRs).
- Allow e-prescriptions to be shared directly with pharmacies.
- Reduce chances of errors through automated cross-checks.
- Enable data-driven healthcare policies.
The judgment aligns with India’s broader push towards digital health initiatives, including the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, which aims to create unique health IDs for citizens and digitize medical records.
Balancing Respect for Doctors and Patient Rights
Justice Puri clarified that the issue is not about questioning doctors’ professional competence. Instead, it is about ensuring patients’ right to clarity in treatment. The judgment acknowledges the immense contribution of doctors while underscoring that fundamental rights cannot be compromised.
As the Court noted:
“Illegibility leads to ambiguity and confusion which can in turn take on a patient’s life or health. If prescriptions are unclear, it jeopardizes the quality and safety of patients.”
Implications of the Judgment
- For Doctors
- Doctors in Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh must immediately adapt to writing in capital letters or adopt digital prescriptions.
- Medical colleges will now train future doctors in the importance of legibility.
- For Governments
- States must frame a comprehensive digitization policy within two years.
- Financial support may be required to help smaller clinics adopt technology.
- For Patients
- Patients now have a constitutional guarantee to receive clear prescriptions.
- The ruling empowers patients to question illegible medical documents.
Conclusion
The Punjab and Haryana High Court’s ruling is a landmark step in expanding the scope of Article 21 to strengthen healthcare rights. By recognizing the fundamental right to legible prescriptions, the Court has bridged a long-standing gap in patient safety and transparency.
As India continues to embrace digital health innovations, this judgment paves the way for a systemic shift toward digital prescriptions, ensuring that patients are not left confused or vulnerable due to something as basic as unreadable handwriting.
The decision strikes a balance between respecting the professional autonomy of doctors and safeguarding the constitutional rights of patients. In doing so, it reinforces the principle that healthcare is not merely a service—it is a right guaranteed under the Constitution of India.
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