From Mr K. Youings, FRPharmS
SIR,—I was dismayed to read the report (PJ, October 14, p548)
of the adoption of electronic signatures on registration certificates. While
accepting that personal signatures on large numbers of documents can be a formidable
task for those persons involved I submit that there is more to this procedure
than the action of Council indicates.
My certificate states “This is to certify that . . .”. My dictionary
defines “certify” as to declare or confirm in writing. I cannot accept
that a machine generated signature can declare or confirm anything. Only personal
intervention can do that.
The late Harry Steinman remarked, while perusing the name on one certificate
before signing, “Here is a name that will go a long way in pharmacy”.
How prophetic this turned out to be. The name was William Martindale Darling,
and I rejoice that my fellowship certificate bears his authentic signature —
not a machine generated facsimile.
Not all decisions of Council are implemented. I hope that this is one which
will be reconsidered. Whether it is “virtually” impossible to distinguish
a genuine signature from a generated one or not, I have no wish to see registration
certificates which historically have always been personally signed reduced to
the status of a television licence or a road fund licence disc.
Ken Youings
Castle Cary, Somerset