Sick leave--honour or expediency?

Experience has shown that doctors tend to be overgenerous when awarding sick leave. Quite rightly their first consideration is their patient, but frequently too little thought is given to the overall effect that excessive absence because of illness may have have on the patient, on the company in which he works, and on the country as a whole. Economically, these effects may be profound. A tempered industrial viewpoint is put forward and South African law regarding sick leave is outlined. A plea is made to doctors to safeguard their sick leave notes, prescription pads or letterhead paper, to award sick leave on merit, giving legible sick leave notes containing the necessary information, and to the profession not to overlook the wider aspects of the matter.