A Web site that sells fake sick notes could pose a risk to people’s health and encourage fraud according to Australian Medical Association President Dr. Rosanna Capolingua.
The notes are available from doctorsnotestore.com and cost about $38 each. They contain a local Australian doctors name and practice.
“The AMA is deeply concerned if people are able to buy authentic-looking fake sick notes over the Internet,” Dr Capolingua said.
On the Web site it says,””Explain your time off work or school with our genuine doctors’ medical certificates. Available blank or filled in. Available with or without genuine doctors stamp.” It also offers delivery to the UK within 48 hours.
The Web site also offers notes for Europeans and for people who have a gym membership that want to cancel their contract due to illness or pregnancy. The site also has links for fake medical notes in the U.S. and Canada.
The site warns potential customers, “Although our products look extremely authentic, they are for educational/entertainment use only. We are not responsible for misuse of our products.”
The Web site was started by a real doctor and is run by Australian backpackers in Europe who use it as a means to fund their travel.
Sick days cost Australian businesses an estimated $10 billion a year. On average, a worker in Australia will take 10 sick days annually.
“GPs work to strict rules when writing medical certificates – fake certificates could lead to baseless complaints being made about individual doctors to the local medical board,” Dr Capolingua said.
