Testing and screening

Updated: January 19, 2022

Physicians should be aware of their professional obligations with respect to testing and screening for COVID-19.

FAQ

• My patient has asked me to provide a doctor’s note to confirm their COVID-19 positive status. How do I do this when I did not perform the test?

My patient has asked me to provide a doctor’s note to confirm their COVID-19 positive status. How do I do this when I did not perform the test?

As the general public no longer has access to PCR tests, which are only reserved for those in high-risk settings, many patients are being asked to continue using self-administered rapid antigen tests (RAT). Because some patients may need a “doctor’s note” to document their infection to their employer or to access governmental benefits, some members may be asked to attest to the fact that their patients had a COVID-19 infection, despite not having been involved in the diagnostic testing nor having seen the patient at the time when they self-diagnosed with a rapid test.

Generally, treating physicians have a professional obligation to provide a medical certificate or letter, at the patient’s request. How should physicians respond to a patient who seeks a medical note attesting they had COVID-19 in such a situation? By providing FAST reports:

Additional resources on completing forms and medical certificates

• Articles:
  • Writing with Care
  • Treating physician reports, IME reports and expert opinions: The way forward

• eLearning activity: Medical letters, forms and reports (accredited for section 3 RCPSC or 2-credit-per-hour CFPC CPD credits)