Online sick certs wide open to abuse – Murphy

Every effort must be made to ensure sick certificates – issued through online websites – are thoroughly vetted and not open to abuse, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator PJ Murphy said today’s revelation that sick certs are being provided by some online platforms with no consultations between patients and doctors is extremely concerning.

“From a medical practitioner’s point of view, from an employer’s point of view and for patient safety, there are some serious issues and concerns here,” Sen Murphy said.

“There needs to due diligence by all sides. I’m all for using all forms of modern communication but surely when it comes to someone’s health, there must be consultation between the doctor and patient – even more so if they may never have been in contact before.

Senator Murphy said he has raised this issue at senior levels of Government.

“I’ve spoken with the Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and I understand she met the Medical Council recently and that she will be following up with them on this matter from a public confidence point of view.

“Basically, what is happening is employers have been presented with sick certs from staff who acquire them online.

“A person selects their illness from a drop down menu and inserts the relevant dates it applies for. The cert costs €25 and if you want it quicker it costs €39.99. There is also the facility to backdate the cert.

“From what I understand and found out to my alarm when I tried it myself, there is no requirement for any form of consultation from the GP or doctor with the patient prior to issuing the cert.

“I could not believe it when I received the cert with no communication whatsoever from the registered GP.

“I’m sure there is numerous cases of people who genuinely need such a service, but it cannot be left open to abuse.

“As a regulatory body, the Irish Medical Council (IMC) is dedicated to guiding doctors in maintaining high standards of professional conduct. We are lucky to have some of the best doctors and health workers at all levels working every night and day for us. Their reputation cannot be tarnished by this.

“It would appear from today’s report that some of the doctors are not registered here but some of the online sites, offering the certs, claim they are Irish registered. The Sick Leave Act states certs have to signed by doctors registered to practice here. So which is it? Are these doctors registered here?

“The IMC guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics explicitly addresses the issuance of certificates, emphasising the importance of thorough patient assessment prior to signing any document,” Senator Murphy said.

Section 52 (Certification) of the guide states:

52.1 In issuing certificates, reports and other formal documents, you must be accurate and make sure the document is legible. You must also include your Medical Council registration number

52.2 You should only sign a certificate, report or document for a patient following a review of the patient’s condition.

Senator Murphy continued: “The growing reliance on automated systems to generate sick certificates is alarming. These systems can undermine the integrity of medical assessments, leading to potential misuse of sick pay claims by employees.

“By bypassing the essential doctor-patient communication, the depth of understanding and evaluation necessary for accurate diagnosis is potentially being compromised.

“Doctors must recognise their professional responsibilities and the implications of their certifications. The issuance of sick certificates without proper consultation could not only violate ethical standards but could also expose practitioners to legal ramifications.

“This issue poses serious ethical and professional challenges for medical practitioners in Ireland as well as huge financial cost to employers who are footing the bill for sick pay on increasing numbers of sick days. Employers must be treated with respect and fairness here too,” Sen Murphy said.