Late work

Some people operate on the principal that if they are not physically in class the day an assignment should be turned in, the assignment is not due.

We may choose to delete points from the grade, we may choose to assign bonus points to the papers arriving on time, asking ourselves, Isn't that a bit like giving overtime pay to someone working a regular shift?

Consistency is important. Consideration of circumstances is important. Fairness is essential. If we assess a grade penalty for late work we need to subtract those points no matter whose work is late; even our most exceptional students need to understand that brilliancy cannot always make them the exception.
On the other hand, we need to have a flexible enough mentality that actual surgery is a valid excuse and a strong enough sense of fairness to the students who do manage to submit their work on time no matter what, to require official documentation for the students citing medical emergencies as a reason for late submission.