We received a prescription with a statement that it was electronically signed by the prescriber but there is no actual signature on it. What are the regulations around this?

The requirements for a prescription to be “signed” are established in the federal regulations relevant for the schedule of the drug. There is nothing in the regulations mandating the use of a “wet” signature (e.g., “pen-and-ink” signature). As explained in the related 2014 article, Navigating Electronically Generated Prescriptions, “Health Canada has broadly defined ‘signing’ as whatever is determined to be necessary to authorize and validate the order”. 

The College’s Position Statement Authenticity of Prescriptions using Unique Identifiers for Prescribers  describes three examples of distinct authorization methods: 

• a traditional pen-and-ink signature, or 

• an electronically captured image of a unique signature (generated on a signature pad), or 

• a unique prescription authorization process which ensures that the prescriber has reviewed and authorized each individual prescription 

There may be many different technologies available to prescribers, especially as computerized order entry and electronic prescriptions become increasingly common, to implement a unique authorization process and generate an order without an actual image of a signature. 

Dispensers should review the Position Statement in its entirety, especially the guidance provided in the section “The Responsibility of the Registrant”. If the pharmacist decides that they need to verify the authenticity of the order, this may be done verbally or in writing (via fax). Prescribers should seek guidance from their regulatory College.