In what situation should dictated notes not be signed?

The best choice in this scenario is when the dictated notes are incomplete. In medical documentation, it's essential that notes accurately reflect the patient encounter and contain all necessary information for a comprehensive understanding of the case. If dictated notes are incomplete, they lack critical details that could affect patient care, billing, and legal documentation. Signing off on incomplete notes can lead to misunderstandings, potential legal issues, and inadequate patient care. Thus, it is appropriate not to sign dictated notes that do not fully capture the encounter.

Errors and unnecessary notes may be addressed through revisions or clarification; however, the presence of incompleteness fundamentally undermines the integrity of the medical record, which is why signing those would be inappropriate.