what is medical certificate

A medical certificate, also known as a doctors certificate, is a written statement from a physician or another medically qualified health care provider that attests to the result of a medical examination of a patient. It can serve as a sick note, evidence of a satisfactory medical examination, or proof of a persons unfitness for work. Medical certificates are used for various purposes such as obtaining certain health benefits from an employer, making an insurance claim, tax purposes, legal procedures, and indicating eligibility for certain activities such as the use of disabled parking. They can also be used to describe a medical condition a person has, certify that someone is free of contagious diseases, drug addiction, mental illness, or other health issues. Medical certificates must respect patients right to confidentiality and should not contain a diagnosis without permission from the patient. The certificate should include the name and address of the doctor and the patient, be in plain language, and avoid medical jargon. It should also be supported by medical records substantiating the certificate.