It’s normal for people to fall sick occasionally and require medical leave to recover. That’s why registered medical practitioners issue medical certificates (MCs) after confirming that a patient is genuinely unwell and unable to attend work or school.
However, some individuals have been accused of misusing MCs, requesting them even when there is no legitimate health reason.
A sick student, a legitimate MC
Recently, a Malaysian doctor named Syafinaz shared her experience on Threads after facing an unusual and frustrating situation at her clinic.
According to Syafinaz, a secondary school girl was brought in for treatment after showing symptoms of Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI). Upon examination, it was clear she was unfit to attend school, so the doctor issued a two-day MC for her to rest and recover.
But things took a strange turn when the girl’s guardian requested an identical two-day MC for her younger brother, who was also present but perfectly healthy.
Doctor, please give the younger one two days of MC too. He’s also not going to school,” the parents allegedly said.
Doctor refuses, child throws tantrum
Shocked by the request, Syafinaz explained that MCs are legal documents and can only be issued to those genuinely unable to attend school or work.
The young boy reportedly reacted badly to the refusal, throwing a tantrum inside the consultation room.
He allegedly kicked chairs and toys, saying it was unfair that only his sister got to stay home while he had to attend school.
Parents Blame the Doctor, Leave Bad Review
What frustrated Syafinaz even more was that the parents allegedly did nothing to calm their son down. Instead, they reportedly scolded the doctor, accusing her of causing the child’s tantrum.
I explained that MCs are legal documents, but neither the parents nor the boy wanted to listen. The boy kept crying, saying it wasn’t fair he had to go to school while his sister could stay home, and even started hitting his sister,” Syafinaz shared.
The chaos didn’t end there. According to Syafinaz, the parents later left a negative Google review accusing her of being a “terrible doctor” who refused to issue MCs altogether.
Netizens’ comment
The post quickly sparked a lot of discussion online, with netizens criticizing the parents’ behaviour.
