Usually yes: a sick note is a clinical document, and a licensed telehealth clinician who assesses you can issue one just as an in-person clinician can - common for colds, flu, stomach bugs, migraines, and minor injuries, delivered as a PDF.
The limits: the note follows the assessment, never the reverse - services selling notes without evaluating you produce paper employers can discount; conditions needing an exam to verify need a visit; some employers require specific forms; backdating is not possible; and notes beyond a few days usually trigger follow-up or a referral to regular care. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, and can help you decide whether your situation fits.
What to do
Common questions
Can I get a sick note from an online doctor?
Usually yes. A sick note is a clinical document, not a favor - a licensed clinician assesses you, judges that you are (or were) unfit for work or school, and documents it. Telehealth clinicians are licensed clinicians, and for conditions that assess well remotely - colds and flu, stomach bugs, migraines, minor injuries, mental-health days in many workplaces - the assessment and the note can both happen online, with the document sent to you as a PDF. The honest limits: the note follows the assessment, never the reverse - a service that sells notes without evaluating you is producing paper, not documentation, and employers can treat it accordingly. Some situations need in-person assessment first (a note for a condition that requires an exam to verify), some employers or schools require specific forms, and backdating is not a thing - a clinician can only attest to what they can assess, from when they assess it. For anything longer than a few days, expect the service to want follow-up or to point you to a regular doctor. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, that can help you work out whether your situation fits an online note and what to say to your employer.
