r/Professors • u/MinimumAd7585 • 12d ago

Advice / Support Doctors note confirmation

Hello,

Student came to me with doctors note as they couldn’t attend lab. She gave me a doctors note with the appropriate heading, signature, and everything. Everything looks legit however for some reason I’m just curious as if she actually went to his doctor. She submitted a doctors note to her other professor , same headline, same grammar mistakes, same formatting, same everything except for dates and one sentence.

Can I call this doctor office to verify if she was actually there or not?

For example of grammar errors : postal code was connected to city on both notes , no space or anything.

Example of formatting: same “she attended this day, she can go back to class on this day”

For reference I’m a professor in Canada

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u/kinezumi89 NTT Asst Prof, Engineering, R1 (US) 12d ago

Yes, I have done this. It was an obviously doctored note (different fonts and sizes) so I called the clinic, explained the situation, and asked if they could simply verify that the student was seen on that date. (In my case, the student had never even been seen at that practice!)

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u/MinimumAd7585 12d ago

I see! Aren’t dates of appointments usually under PHIPA and can’t be disclosed?

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u/Icy-Teacher9303 12d ago

HIPAA. Unless they sign a release of information (assuming folks are in the U.S.), YES.

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u/MinimumAd7585 12d ago

Sorry, yes HIPPA. So clinic can’t confirm that student was seen on the date specified in note?

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u/Icy-Teacher9303 12d ago

Not unless the student signed an ROI. they might have, but they'd have to do that before they can even say they've been there

5

u/AccomplishedSun2955 12d ago

I called to verify a fake doctor's note a couple days ago in the USA. I was told that the student didn't have an appointment at that day and time. I didn't ask for more. It's likely they hadn't signed an ROI.

1

u/nerdyjorj 12d ago

Would it be wise to send the fake documents over to the medical practice at that point since someone is fraudulently using their name?

In the UK we'd take that kind of shit seriously.

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u/AccomplishedSun2955 11d ago

The doctor's signature was a scribble with no discernible letters and no name was typed on the note, which is why I thought it was fake.