Unclear handwriting on medical prescriptions continues to pose serious risks to patient safety across India. Several documented cases highlight how illegible scripts have led to wrong medications, incorrect dosages, and even hospitalisation. A 34-year-old man received a strong steroid instead of an antibiotic due to poor handwriting, worsening his throat infection and causing severe stomach pain. In another incident, a neurosurgeon was given a dangerous immunosuppressant instead of HIV prophylaxis medication, resulting in life-threatening complications. Even minor errors like missing decimal points have caused patients to fall into semi-comatose states. The Punjab and Haryana High Court recently ruled that legible prescriptions are a fundamental right. Medical associations now recommend typed or block-letter prescriptions. Many hospitals are transitioning to electronic systems to eliminate ambiguity, improve safety, and create reliable digital records for future reference.
Real Cases Show Prescription Errors Can Be Life-Threatening
A throat infection patient received a potent steroid instead of an antibiotic because the pharmacist could not read the prescription properly. Within two days, his infection worsened and he developed severe stomach pain and weakness, requiring hospitalisation for intravenous antibiotics. Another serious case involved a neurosurgeon prescribed azidothymidine for HIV prophylaxis after a needle-stick injury. The illegible handwriting caused the pharmacist to dispense azathioprine, a powerful immunosuppressant. For one month, the neurosurgeon unknowingly consumed the wrong drug, developed high-grade fever, and suffered pancytopenia, a toxic effect. A patient prescribed 0.5 mg alprazolam was given 5 mg instead due to a missing zero, resulting in a semi-comatose state from excessive sedation.
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