<p>I think ADA would apply if the student had already addressed the need for, and gotten, accomodations through the Office of Disability services. That said, agree with the recommendation to talk to the Dean of students and ask how they handle these extenuating circumstances.</p>
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<p>This part of the OP’s dilemma is troubling me. When the syllabus says no make-up exams unless arranged with the professor in advance, that often means in reality that when there’s a health crisis the professor will make some kind of accomodations like a (much harder) makeup test. As someone wrote upthread, students can be incredibly clever and convincing about inventing illnesses. Hence the doctor’s note to say that Student X really was seen for appendicitis/high fever and vomiting/torn ligaments/whatever. </p>
<p>I’d want to know why the doctor couldn’t document the student’s medical condition and treatment. Because without that, the professor has no reason to believe the OP.</p>
<p>slitheytove…I was interested in seeing if the student got this resolved. In talking with a prof friend, she told me that our school (state Univ) will only say that the student visited the health center at a certain time but will not “excuse” them…basically they won’t take a side on whether or not student was well enough to be in class. (maybe private doc would) Seems harsh for someone with real problem but evidently there are even more students that try to game the system.</p>
<p>I would love an update from the OP.</p>
<p>scmom, then the student is really caught between a rock and a hard place. If you’re ill enough to be missing class, odds are you’re not going to have the ability to think through the process of going to another doctor who could certify that you were really seriously ill. That’s assuming that there’s another doctor nearby that you can get to, let alone afford. </p>
<p>It’s hard for the prof to make a judgement on this when it’s the first midterm of the class and the student has no track record.</p>