Certificates Issued by Doctors: Legal Aspects & Ethical Challenges

Medical certificates may be required to claim certain health insurance benefits, to obtain health benefits from an employer, income benefits, or some other legal benefits like exemption of court attendance in advanced pregnancy, deferment, or even commutation of a death sentence on medical grounds. To be legally valid, doctors must follow the guidelines prescribed by the National Medical Commission and other relevant laws. In cases of medico - legal reports, doctors must not examine the person and issue the certificate without a requisition letter from a competent authority. A copy of the certificate must be kept with the issuing doctor and confidentiality must be maintained. Any violation of this may attract ethical and legal actions against the erring doctor.