Final answer:
Pharmacists are not allowed to add or correct a DEA number, or a patient's name/address on a C2 prescription as these changes require direct authorization from the prescribing practitioner.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pharmacists are not allowed to add a practitioner's DEA number to a C2 prescription or correct a patient's name/address on their own. These types of changes typically require direct authorization from the prescribing practitioner to ensure the accuracy and legality of the controlled substance prescription.
For a C2 prescription specifically, which denotes a medication that has a high potential for abuse, regulations generally prohibit alterations to the prescription after it is written by the prescriber. If there is an error or a missing DEA number, the pharmacist must contact the practitioner for a new prescription or for confirmation and documented permission to make a change. Similarly, changing a patient's name or address is a significant modification that could affect the dispensing of the prescription, and thus would also require verification and potentially a new prescription from the prescriber.
The role of a pharmacist is to ensure that all dispensed medications are correctly prescribed and safely administered. Therefore, for legality and patient safety, they must adhere to strict protocols when handling prescriptions, especially those of controlled substances.