I must confess I have not heard
of this case. However others on this site I know have more legal knowledge
than me. I do have a couple
of comments about medical negligence and 'duty of care' and doing our job
professionally.
Chest x-rays are read by
radiologists as well - did they not spot the problem? Why was an OHP doing a CXR
as it is not their job unless it is necessary for the working environment -
surely this lady should have been referred to her GP PDQ ?
Duty of care: Read Whitakers
chapter in Practical Ethics in Occupational Health. It gives a case
law example of duty of care.
As for OH nurses I think we are
safest to follow the guidance given by the NMC in our code of professional
conduct - that is about being professional.
Regards, Greta
Greta Thornbory
Consultant,
Occupational Health & Education
Consultant Editor, OH Journal
www.gtenterprises-uk.com
Tel:
01235 770156
Mob: 07778 518 027
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, June 23, 2007 8:17
PM
Subject: [OCC-HEALTH] Case Law
Was wondering if anyone could remember the name of the case or
let me
know of other cases which highlight same thing - our duty of
care to
employee to do our job professionally.
Name of case
???
where an OHP did a chest x-ray in department for work related
issue,
but did not spot an underlying health condition. Later
during
pregnancy lady got sick and was secondary to pulmonary
hypertension -
missed in OH. OHP sued for negligence as missed
it.
Many Thanks
Sarah