Vidushi Vats
The Orissa High Court has issued a directive to the chief secretary, urging doctors across the state to adopt capital letters or legible handwriting when preparing postmortem reports and prescriptions. This instruction, issued on January 4, stems from an incident where an illegible postmortem report, related to a snakebite death case, necessitated the summoning of the responsible doctor. The victim’s father sought court intervention after his compensation plea was rejected by the tehsildar.
Justice S K Panigrahi, presiding over a single judge bench, underscored the significance of clear documentation, expressing concern over the casual approach of many doctors affecting the comprehension of medico-legal documents. The court highlighted the challenges faced by the judicial system in deciphering such reports.
In light of these issues, the chief secretary is mandated to circulate a directive to all medical centres, private clinics, medical colleges, and hospitals. This directive emphasises the necessity for proper handwriting or typed forms when prescribing medicine or creating medico-legal reports, aiming to enhance clarity and comprehension in the healthcare documentation process.
Following the doctor’s court appearance, the Orissa High Court disposed of the petition, instructing the petitioner to submit a new representation to the tehsildar within one month. The judge emphasised that the authorities should carefully consider and resolve the representation in accordance with the law.