People use fake doctor’s notes to excuse absences from school or work. They can use it to cover up for unapproved time off or to extend work deadlines.  The major reason this happens so often is that it’s so easy to find fake doctor’s note templates online; you can even generate them in seconds with AI.

In this guide, we’ll look at why people fake doctor’s notes, the implications, and better alternatives.

Is It Illegal to Use a Fake Doctor’s Note?

It is absolutely illegal to use fake doctor’s notes for whatever reason. Depending on your work or school policy against it, the consequence could be as light as an ethics training or suspension, or as serious as actual legal trouble. 

Legal Consequences vs. Workplace Policies

• Work/School Policies: In most organizations, you will end up with suspension or expulsion. But if the company has very strict policies against fraud, you could be fired.
• Criminal Charges: In extreme cases, faking a doctor’s note can be considered fraud or forgery, especially if you used it to claim paid time off.

Can You Get Arrested or Sued?

• Forgery Charges: If you used your fake note for financial gain (like PTO), you could face fines or even jail time.
• Civil Lawsuits: Your employers can sue for damages if your forgery caused major disruptions (missed deadlines or lost business).

What Happens If You Get Caught?

These are the most common repercussions of faking a doctor’s note:

• Disciplinary Actions: You could get a written warning, suspension, or even termination from work if they find out you faked your doctor’s note. If you faked it for school, you could get a suspension, after-school detention with ethics training, academic probation, or expulsion. 

• Long-Term Consequences: Depending on how seriously the institution or organization takes the forgery, you could get a permanent record if you get expelled or terminated. This would make it incredibly difficult to get recommendations and references for future jobs or college applications.

Real-Life Examples: People Who Got Caught

Writing fake doctor notes does not just make you look bad, it can actually ruin your career. Here are some real-world cases:

• Sarah Oakes

Sarah Oakes was working as a nurse in a hospital and forged doctor’s notes that claimed she had chronic hip pain and couldn’t work. However, after she missed multiple welfare appointments, her workplace discovered she was lying and went on vacation instead. She resigned from this hospital and didn’t incur long-term consequences until she forged references from her former workplace.

Since this case was taken to court, she now has a permanent record of being an untrustworthy employee. This can make it incredibly difficult to find a new job, especially in healthcare.

• Belinda Fondren

Fondren didn’t just fake doctor’s notes; she sold them to school students at $20 each, allowing them to skip school. She was found out when the school reached out to the actual doctor she impersonated. He confirmed that he didn’t write any excuse notes, nor did anyone at his office. After some investigation, Fondren, a former employee, was found to have written the notes and was charged with filing and maintaining false records.

How Employers and Schools Verify Doctor’s Notes

As an organization or institution, here is how you can confirm if a doctor’s note is fake or real:

• Call the clinic to confirm authenticity.
• Look for red flags (wrong formatting, suspicious signatures).
• Use a verification software to detect forged documents.

Check out this complete guide to detecting a fake doctor’s note

Why Using a Fake Note Could Damage Your Reputation

Imagine working hard for years, only to lose credibility because of one forged note. Once people doubt your honesty, everything you have built comes under scrutiny, and even the littlest mistakes that could have been overlooked by the school or organization will become magnified.

Better Alternatives to Faking a Doctor’s Note

Instead of risking your job or reputation, try these options instead:

•  Book an online doctor consultation.
• Request unpaid leave if you don’t qualify for sick days.
• Take a mental health break if burnout is the real issue.

Read how to write a leave application letter [+5 letter samples]

How Using Form Creation Software Can Help You Stay Transparent

Rather than waiting to catch fakes, create a culture where employees/students feel comfortable requesting legitimate leave.

• Offer mental health days to reduce the need for dishonest excuses
• Provide clear leave policies so staff/students know their options
• Use digital forms (like Formplus) to simplify leave requests

The Bottom Line

While a fake doctor’s note might seem like an easy solution, the risks far outweigh the benefits. Fake doctor’s notes can taint your reputation permanently because once trust is broken, rebuilding it is tough; once you’re caught, employers and colleagues may forever doubt your integrity.

Also, as an employer, create a culture of honesty and approachability. One where employees can tell you exactly why they need time off without resorting to lies. Get started with our free leave request template to bring transparency to your leave requests.