Nurses may not sign certificates

IN TERMS of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act No 75 of 1997, there needs to be proof of incapacity before an employee is off sick for more than two days on more than two occasions during an eightweek period.

The employee must produce a medical certificate stating that the employee was unable to work for the duration of the employee’s absence on account of sickness or injury.

The medical certificate must be issued and signed by a medical practitioner or any other person who is certified to diagnose and treat patients and who is registered with a professional council established by an act of Parliament.

On many occasions nurses do sign sick certificates even though they are not certified to diagnose and treat patients. This is not acceptable.

Cape Town