Q: In a GP practice, patients come often for a sick note without being actually sick. Most will say they are tired and need a day or two off. Some practitioners charge for a sick note as a business transaction.
Is it permissible to rather consult the patient and do a general check up (blood pressure and sugar) and give multi vitamins and then give the note or is it not permissible at all?
A: Charging for merely giving a note is not permissible as this is not in lieu of any service that one is providing. Hence, the money one takes will not be halaal. Apart from this, in the case where the patient is not sick, and one gives the note informing that the patient is ill, then this amounts to speaking a lie.
However, if the doctor checks the patient and charges him for the check up, then this charge will be valid as one is taking a remuneration for providing a valid service. Hence, in this case, the money one earns will also be halaal.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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