title: [Individual autonomy and the principles of occupational health care].
abstract: The effect of work-related diseases on the health condition of the population at large has increased the interest in etiology and epidemiology of these diseases and intensified activities aimed at providing effective treatment of occupational diseases, but first of all at preventing their occurrence. That is why workers are now recognised as the largest population group subjected to active counselling. In order to meet the recommendations of the International Labour Organization, Polish labour law has been modified so that every worker is guaranteed an opportunity to benefit from medical prevention within the range required by his/her working conditions. This concern for workers' health contributed to the fact that health has now become a supreme value to which all other values and human needs are submitted. The author discusses the issues of compulsory prophylactic examinations and protection against employment at a workplace that is inadmissible because of health reasons, in the perspective of the human right to keep his/her own ailments in secret and the right to freedom of choice concerning his/her own health and living and conditions.
authors.affiliation: Zakładu Organizacji Ochrony Zdrowia Instytutu Medycyny Pracy, Lodzi.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Makowska-Matuszkiewicz
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006806:Human Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D007750:Labor Unions / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011044:Poland