Dr note from my employer?

Question

Can a Dr legally backdate a note to your employer saying you have been out of work for a week due to illness, although you didnt get to see the Dr for one week after your illness began? Thanks

Just to let you all know the Physicians Assistant I saw said it was illegal for her to back date my note. That even though she knows I was sick, to bad for me. I also saw a Chiropractor on the same day. He said no problem he would write whatever I needed. So... I really still dont know the right answer... but thanks for all the responses

Answer 1

he can only write a note for when you saw him.

Answer 2

If it is a true statement that you were sick since Monday, even though you did not go to see the doctor until Thursday, what's wrong with the doctor saying you were sick since Monday? Or even a whole week, since all the doctor ever has to go on is what you tell him and what he observes. You were out of work, you tell him you were sick, and now he sees you and sees that you are sick. Of course, in the case of injury it's even easier, but there's no reason he can't testify to what you told him. (In his medical records, it will show that this was "patient information" rather than direct observation, but the conclusion from the disease process he observes when he sees you should be adequate.

We don't always go to a doctor right away in the case of illness, assuming it is no big deal and will go away soon. It's only when the symptoms persist that it becomes necessary to ask a doctor whether this is actually more serious.

Answer 3

Talk to your HR department if you have one. If it's a small business and there is only the boss they can do whatever they want to some degree. There is no need make you see the doctor when they have already told you when you are cleared. We do this all the time where I work. The doctor indicates when the employee can return to work. It can be written to return at a later time if everything resolves. If they won't budge, ask your doctor if you can schedule a visit and pick up a note there. The doctor may shake his/her head and not even charge for an office visit. All they really have to do is rewrite the note and hand it to you.

Answer 4

Whether it is legal or not is not the issue- the question is whether it can be done.

In some instances a doctor would be able to give you a "doctor's note" because it is possible to prove when you became "sick" enough to not be able TO go to work.

Ie if you were to break your leg. Or get a condition which has a known period of "illness" such as scarlet fever, tonsilitis from the symptoms he/she can see at the time of seeing you TO backdate it.

Answer 5

Why can the doctor not state that you have been ill from the date it began to the previous date? That would not be a lie. A` doctor would understand as sometimes a person is too ill to go in immediately when you first become ill, or you end up sick longer than what you first thought you would be.

Answer 6

If the patient still had symptoms of the illness and in the doctor's judgement he feel he/she was sick than yes.

If the doctor continually does this or the doctor is friends with the employee it can be considered biased. BUT a doctor can lose their practice if they make phony sick notes. >Would the doctor risk it?

Answer 7

I have had the dr write a note saying my daughter was sick and unable to go to school from ____ on, even though we did not take her to the dr on that first date. So I would say yes - depending on the situation.

Answer 8

Just have him give you an excuse that only has a return to work date. The boss will be satisfied and there are no legal worries.

Answer 9

legally? I don't know...but my doctor did it for me last week when I went in sick...but I had a bad flu, and he just backdated it, didn't even ask me....

Answer 10

Yes he can. If it is in a Dr's judgement that you have been ill before making it in.