It is not uncommon for individuals summoned on a jury, or to
give evidence in the law courts, to apply to their doctor for a
certificate, assigning as a cause of exemption neuralgia, or some
similar complaint unattended with objective symptoms. In such cases it
is well to remind the patient that in most courts such certificates are
received with suspicion, and are often rejected, and that the personal
attendance of the medical man is required to endorse his certificate on
oath.
Malingering has become much more common since the National Health
Insurance Act has been passed. The possibility of obtaining a fair sum
each week without the necessity of working for it induces many persons
either to feign disease or to make recovery from actual disease or
accident much more tedious than it ought really to be.
The feasibility of successfully malingering is greatly enhanced by the
possession of some chronic organic disease. An old mitral regurgitant
murmur is useful for this purpose.
It is not flattering to one's vanity to overlook a case of malingering,
but should this occur little harm is done. It is a much more serious
matter to accuse a person of malingering when in reality he may be
suffering from an organic disease.
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