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May I recommend to all of you Stuart Whitakers chapter in 'Practical Ethics in occupational health' (Westerholm et al 2004, Radcliffe Medical press) The chapter is on 'Health Examinations on new employment: ethical issues'. In fact the whole book addresses OH ethical issues in depth and is a must for all OH practitioners! There is a review in Occupational Health Review Sept& Oct and also one in October's OH journal. Greta Thornbory Consultant, Occupational Health & Education Consultant Editor, OH Journal www.gtenterprises-uk.com Tel: 01235 770156 Mob: 07778 518 027 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Clayton.Mary" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2004 10:39 AM Subject: Re: disclosure of medical conditions > This fits in with my experience of practice throughout the years. I always > encourage the client to take control of disclosure wherever possible - it > helps the client to remain in control of the information-type quantity and > quality. > > Mary > > -----Original Message----- > From: Diane Romano-Woodward [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: 16 September 2004 09:24 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: disclosure of medical conditions > > Hello all, > > The way I see it, we are employed to give advice to management on the > inter-relationship between health and work. We do have some expertise, and > using this we make judegements. > > For example , with Diabetes, if an office worker has diet controlled > diabetes I see no reason to give any information, except perhaps that the > employee has a medical condiiton for which they are receiving appropriate > treatemnt and follow up from the GP, but that it should not affect their > ability to do their job.I might add that it was important that they were > allowed to have meal breaks at regular intervals if I thought it was going > to be a problem. > > If they person was insulin dependent , I might suggest to the employee that > they find out who their First Aider is and discuss this in confidence. I > would also suggest that they disclose to the manager. (i might also ensure > that all the FA's knew what to do for hypoglycaemia , and that there was > hypostop or dextrose tablets readily available, but I wouldn't tell them > specifially why!) > > In information to the manager I would be suitably vague, but tell them that > I had advised the employee to talk to the first aider. > > The situation might be different if the employee's job involved moving > machinery, or working at heights where thier safety and that of others might > be affected. However I would always try and persuade the employee to > disclose, perhaps having a joint meeting with them. (i might also ensure > that all the FA's knew what to do for hypoglycaemia , and that there was > hypostop or dextrose tablets readily available, but I wouldn't tell them > specifially why!) > > An if there was a regulation which made a person unsuitable, for example if > diabetic LGV driver had to commence on insulin, then here would be an > obligaiton to say that the the person was no longer suitable for the > task.Then I would look at ways of modifying jobs to ensure that they stay in > work. > > Does this approach fit in with other's practice? > > BW > Diane > > > > I do know of a (self -employed) insulin dependent steeplejack.... > > _________________________________________________________________ > It's fast, it's easy and it's free. Get MSN Messenger today! > http://www.msn.co.uk/messenger > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Please remove this footer before replying. > > For list archives and documents, go to > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/occ-health.html for list archives > > For jobs in Occupational Health, go to > http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/OHJobs/ > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Please remove this footer before replying. > > For list archives and documents, go to > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/occ-health.html for list archives > > For jobs in Occupational Health, go to > http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/OHJobs/ --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.762 / Virus Database: 510 - Release Date: 13/09/2004 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please remove this footer before replying. For list archives and documents, go to http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/occ-health.html for list archives For jobs in Occupational Health, go to http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/OHJobs/