ORIGINAL PAPER
The right of a doctor to inform an employer of contraindications to perform a certain type of work by an employee
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1
Uniwersytet Medyczny w Łodzi / Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland (Zakład Prawa Medycznego / Department of Medical Law)
2
Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Klinika Toksykologii, Odział Toksykologii, Pracownia Diagnostyki Toksykologicznej / Toxicology Clinic, Division of Clinical Toxicology,
Toxicology Diagnostics Laboratory)
3
Uniwersytet Łódzki / University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland (Wydział Ekonomiczno-Socjologiczny, Katedra Informatyki Ekonomicznej / Faculty of Economics and Sociology,
Chair of Business Informatics)
Online publication date: 2018-12-18
Corresponding author
Radosław Zajdel
Wydział Ekonomiczno-Socjologiczny,
Katedra Informatyki Ekonomicznej, ul. Rewolucji 1905 r. 39, 90-214 Łódź
Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2018;69(6):613-20
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ABSTRACT
Background: The aim of this study is to analyze the legal regulations that pertain to the duty of doctor-patient privilege and the
possibility of its repeal on the plane to provide information about the patient’s health status to his employer. Material and Methods: The material constitutes the current Polish law regulations relating to the medical duty of doctor–patient privilege as well as
provisions defining the scope of information on the patient’s health status that may be transferred to a patient’s employer. Results: The doctor has no right to provide the employer with information on contraindications to perform a specific job, if the information
was obtained in the mode of providing health services that are not eligible for the catalogue of preliminary/preventive/control
examinations. The basis for the doctor providing information to the employer cannot be an exception to the obligation of medical
confidentiality, which is governed by art. 40 § 2 pts 1–6 of the Act of Medical Profession, under which cases of admission of professional
secrecy were listed, which makes it impossible to use the cited article in cases other than strictly specified in its content. Conclusions: Polish law specifies the circumstances in which it is possible to provide an employer with the medical information
on the patient’s health. However, there are regulations that provide for the information on contraindications to perform a certain
type of work or job to be transmitted if the information has been obtained in a manner other than as provided in the ordinance
on medical examinations of employees. Med Pr 2018;69(6):613–620