How long is a doctor's note valid?

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There is no universal expiry date printed on medical notes - a note is valid for exactly what it says: the dates and restrictions the clinician certified based on their evaluation. A note covering Monday to Wednesday for flu does its job on those dates and says nothing about Thursday. What trips people up is the difference between the note's stated period and ongoing need: if you are still ill when the note runs out, the right move is a follow-up evaluation for an updated note, not stretching the old one - altering dates on a note is document fraud, and employers do check. For longer medical situations, the formal rules kick in. Under FMLA - the federal job-protected leave law - the Department of Labor says an employer may generally require recertification of a serious health condition no more often than every 30 days, and only in connection with an absence; the employer can also ask for a second or third medical opinion at their own expense if they doubt the certification. Employers must give you at least 15 calendar days to return a completed FMLA certification. Schools and short-term workplace sick leave set their own house rules on when notes are required and how current they must be - ask the attendance or HR office. The practical summary: a note is valid for its stated dates, extendable only by the clinician, and longer conditions run on the certification clock, not the note. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, and can help you work out what your situation needs.

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