Prescription must be legible: SHRC

SLUG-medicine mix-upKozhikode: State human rights commission (SHRC) directed the health secretary to issue guidelines to doctors to ensure that their prescriptions are clear and legible. The order issued by the commission's judicial member K Byjunath also said that legal action should be taken against doctors who violate these guidelines.The directive comes in the wake of an incident at Cheruppa health unit of Kozhikode Medical College, where an elderly patient slipped into a serious condition after being given the wrong medicine due to an unclear prescription. SHRC ordered an expert committee under the district medical officer (DMO) to conduct a detailed enquiry and said authorities should take departmental action against those found responsible.SHRC further directed authorities to provide adequate and fair compensation to the complainant for the suffering and medical expenses incurred. If further treatment is required authorities must provide it free of cost. Failing this would amount to a serious human rights violation and denial of justice.The commission stressed that doctors must write prescriptions clearly in capital letters in compliance with Indian Medical Council regulations as this is essential for patient safety. It said issuing illegible prescriptions is a serious legal violation. The order noted lapses on the part of the doctor, pharmacist and hospital in connection with the incident.Instead of the prescribed medicine for blood pressure CILNIDIPINE 10mg, the patient was given GLIMEPIRIDE. The lack of clarity in the doctor's prescription led to the error. SHRC's investigation wing had conducted a probe into the incident.