At a time when most people write on keyboards, does the graphic character matter? Indian Court decides that yes, especially if the one who writes unreadable is doctor.

The jokes about the bad graphic character of doctors, which only pharmacists can decipher, are common all over the world. The decision highlighting the importance of pure writing has recently come from the highest Court Punjab and Hariana, who ruled that “the legible medical recipe is a fundamental right” as it can make the difference between life and death.

The court ruling was issued for a case that had nothing to do with the written reason. It was allegations of rape, fraud and forgery by a woman, and Judge Jasgurprin Singh Purius heard the man’s request for a guarantee.

The woman claimed that her husband had taken money by promising a government position, did fake interviews with her and had sexually exploited her.

The defendant denied the allegations, said they had consensual relationship, and the case arrived at court due to financial disputes.

Judge Pouri said that when he examined the forensic report – which was drawn up by a government doctor who had examined the woman – he found her incomprehensible.

“He shocked the consciousness of this court, as neither one word was not readable,” he wrote in the ruling.

The BBC saw a copy of the decision including the report and a two -page recipe showing the doctor’s illegible writing.

“At a time when technology and computers are easily accessible, it is shocking that government doctors are still writing hand -in -law, which cannot be read by anyone except perhaps some pharmacists,” wrote Judge Pouri.

The Court asked the government to include writing lessons in the Medical School curriculum and to set a two -year timing for the release of digitized recipes.

Until that happens, all doctors must write the recipes clearly in uppercase, said Judge Pouri.

The president of the Indian Medical Association, who has more than 330,000 doctors as members, told the BBC that he was willing to help find a solution to the problem.

He says that in the big cities doctors use digital recipes, but this is very difficult in rural areas. “It is well known that many doctors are bad graphic, but this is because most doctors are very busy, especially in full public hospitals,” he says.

“We have recommended our members to write the recipes in bold that should be readable by both patients and pharmacists. A doctor who sees seven patients a day can do so, but if you see 70 patients a day, you can’t do it, ”he adds.