—
I want to start this post out by saying I don’t condone what I did. It was very stupid, and I’ve already learned never to do anything like it again. However, some help navigating this situation would be greatly appreciated.
—
Hi, I was sick for an exam and ended up making a fake doctors note. I had flu symptoms, and I didn’t want to waste money on a doctors visit. The fake note was almost identical to the real deal, I just changed the number Incase he called.
Flash forward to today, I got a call at the doctors office from my doctors saying she got a call from a professor checking the validity of the note. She of course told him that I wasn’t seen, and the note must be fake.
However, I just got a email from the professor saying he checked the number and it didn’t work and asked if I know why. This is after he already called the doctors office.
I’m not sure how to proceed with this. I’m incredibly embarrassed by my behavior, but I also don’t want my grade to be demolished (and possibly get in huge trouble). Does anyone have any sughtions for what to do?
If this is true, you’ve already been busted and your professor is giving you an opportunity to own up to your mistake. Don’t compound your problem by lying. Go speak to your him and tell him the truth.
Your prof is actually being more than fair by giving you a chance to confess. I would just come clean. Maybe the prof will throw you some kind of lifeline, but it’s pretty certain that if you try to make up more stuff, you might just get an F. Be mature, and explain what you said here.
The reason why the number didn’t work is because the note is not authentic. I have been sick since Friday with the Flu, that part is true. However, I did not want to go to the doctors for an unnecessary visit so I made up my own note (which was stupid).
I want to apologize for this greatly, and take complete ownership of the consequences. If you would like to meet in person to discuss this I’m more than willing.
Is this for real? I have to say I’m shocked a prof would ever call a doctor’s office and under privacy rules the doctor’s office can’t say anything anyway.
In college, faculty only wish for 12! Lots of students get sick, oddly before exams or due dates. Some students have very legitimate excuses; but until you have been faculty, you have no idea of the excuses. What you need to bring may be on the syllabus. Had one kid report the deaths of three grandparents and faculty next store said of them also died the previous term. Another student claimed she was in the hospital, but couldn’t come up with a bill, statement of problems and diagnosis, pills, or even the plastic wrist band. It was like it never happen! Attendance is an important part of learning and being a member of a class. Personal favorite, even after an announced snow day, called my office to see if class would meet and was angry when I didn’t answer the phone. So yes, college students do lie and skip class like kids.
Something about the doctored note must have led the prof to be suspicious. On the topic of verifying excuses, as a TA I once called a student’s home to check on the accuracy of her “dad had a heart attack” excuse for missing an exam. The mom proceeded to try and rip me a new one when she realized why I was calling. LOL.
To respond to posts 7 and 8, yes, we do need to expect some kind of proof for missing an exam to protect the honest majority from the dishonest few. With flu symptoms severe enough to miss an exam, the student should have gone into a clinic. Airlines required some evidence for bereavement fares.
I would not confess by email. It is avoidant and your creative writing skills have already caused you some trouble! I would see the professor in person and confess.
Also, if you are going to send anything, send a letter to your doctor apologizing. They don’t take kindly to what you did. Ask if he can not put a note in your record about the incident or that could follow you.
The prof’s inquiry to the doctor’s office was probably about whether the note was legitimate. HIPAA ( not HIPPA) doesn’t cover inquiries about stationery.
I am a professor, so I am well aware that students may be making up excuses. Interestingly, our student health center specifically asks that students NOT come in for routine illnesses just to get an excuse. While I do check attendance, I can never imagine calling a doctor, and as I noted, it would not be lawful for the doctor’s office to comment on anything without the patient’s permission. My view is, if the student wants to miss class and make up an excuse, they are going to pay the price anyway because the course I teach is tough and they just make it harder on themselves even with “excused” absences. I am certainly not going to chase down every excuse.
And the OP said the prof called and the office told them the student was not seen. That information would most certainly be covered by HIPAA.
At any rate, my original point was that this post seems fishy is all.
“Flash forward to today, I got a call at the doctors office from my doctors saying she got a call from a professor checking the validity of the note. She of course told him that I wasn’t seen, and the note must be fake.”
Because of HIPAA laws, I don’t believe that the doctor told the professor that the student wasn’t seen, but I do believe that the professor was told that the note was not issued by the doctor’s office.
One of my friends repeatedly missed class due to a yet to be diagnosed chronic illness and despite doctors’ notes for each and every absence, some the profs still didn’t believe her. People like you contribute to that abuse.
If a student provides a note from a provider documenting a visit and excusing them from class, that is proof of patient consent to disclose that info. It would not be a HIPAA violation to confirm or deny the validity of external communication by a physician.