Federal Regulations Regarding The Content Of A Doctors Note.

[Jeriah]

I work for a federal agency and I recently took accrued sick leave and ended up spending 6 hours in the emergency room. I took 5 hrs of sick leave from work that day. The doctor ordered for me to be on 72 hr quarters, the following day was a paid holiday and then I had to take another ten hours for the day following the holiday. My supervisor requested I provide a doctors note which I did. It stated my name, the date seen, doctors orders(72hrs quarters) and the doctors signature. When I returned to work the following week I sent up the doctors note. The manager wrote me up requesting that I give him more information regarding what I was sick with, the doctors printed name(since he cannot read the signature) and clarification on the 72 hr quarters. He gave me 15 calendar days to do so or the 15 hrs sick leave I used will be converted to Absence without leave(AWOL). I'm curious to the rights I have as far as providing the manager with the information above, when they asked for a doctors note they did not state what was required in it and also the regulation we have here just states "medical certificate". I feel as if it is a personal attack and wish to pursue some kind of recourse but I cannot find anything to back me up. Please help and thank you very much.

[Patton]

The company has the right to know the doctor's name if they cannot read it. They do not have the right to specific medical information under the HIPPA act. All they need is the doctor's note. Your private medical information is protected under the HIPPA act.

I do not understand the 72 hour quarters, perhaps you will need to explain what is meant by 72 hour quarters to the supervisor as he may not understand either. Anything to do with the job is required, any specific information that does not have an impact on the job is not required. The company does have a right to contact the doctor.

If the absence is coverted to AWOL than contact your local Department of Labor as this is a retaliation against you for being ill and for refusing to give out personal medical information. Shirley