Backdating and Extending Medical Certificates

Can partner doctors backdate medical certificates?

There are two answers here:

• If you are requesting the date a medical certificate is generated by a Practitioner to be in the past, this is what you would traditionally call "backdating", which is not allowed. For example, if you receive a consultation on the 25th of July, but you want the certificate to state that this was provided on the 24th of July, this is not allowed.
• If, however, consider a scenario where you request a medical certificate certificate consultation on the 25th of July, and you were too sick on the 24th of July to make the request. If your Partner Practitioner deems it suitable they can provide you a medical certificate which covers the medically justifiable period up to a date prior to the request date. This means you could be covered for the 24th and the 25th of July. The date the certificate is generated can only be from the date it is requested, which would be the 25th of July in this case.

Can partner doctors extend medical certificates for future dates?

Medical certificates must be issued for the specific duration of the medical condition or treatment and cannot be extended beyond the date indicated on the certificate.

Why can't partner doctors backdate or extend medical certificates?

Backdating and extending medical certificates is not in compliance with the guidelines in Australia. It is also not in line with the principles of good medical practice and may be considered fraudulent.

What should I do if my medical condition lasts longer than the duration indicated on my medical certificate?

If your medical condition lasts longer than the duration indicated on your medical certificate, you will need to schedule another request with a partner doctor or visit a doctor in-person.