Legal Regulations for Medical Certificates in India (NMC / Code of Ethics)
Under the Code of Medical Ethics Regulations laid down by the National Medical Commission (NMC), medical practitioners issuing certificates must follow strict professional standards:
- Personal Examination Mandatory: A medical certificate must never be issued without the doctor conducting a direct, personal clinical examination of the patient.
- Identification Details: The certificate should record the patient's signature or identification mark taken in the doctor's presence to prevent impersonation.
- Exact Dates: The date of examination, expected duration of bed rest (for illness certificates), and the date of resumption must be explicitly mentioned.