How must a Schedule II prescription be signed?

A Schedule II prescription must be manually signed by the practitioner to ensure both legal compliance and patient safety. The manual signature serves as a verification of the practitioner's intent to prescribe a controlled substance, which is subject to strict regulations due to its potential for abuse and dependency. The necessity for a hand signature helps prevent unauthorized alterations and ensures that only the licensed practitioner who assessed the patient can authorize the medication. This requirement is critical in maintaining the integrity of prescriptions for controlled substances and safeguarding against misuse.

To elaborate, electronic signatures and prescriptions are typically acceptable for certain medications; however, the regulations for Schedule II drugs are stricter to minimize the risks associated with their potent effects. The option of not signing at all or allowing a nurse or assistant to sign would contravene these stringent guidelines, as only the medical practitioner with the appropriate authority should be the one prescribing such substances.