[Myocardial infarction as an occupational injury as represented in the materials collected at the Department of Forensic Medicine in Bydgoszcz in the years between 2000 and 2004].
Myocardial infarction is defined as coagulational necrosis of the cardiac muscle caused by ischaemia. In the majority of cases, myocardial infarction is a consequence of atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries. Excessive physical or mental effort can lead to a sudden increase in the required supply of oxygen necessary for the proper functioning of the cardiac muscle and in consequence to cardiac muscle necrosis. The objective of the present study was to analyze cases of myocardial infarctions occurring at work opinionated at the Medico-Legal Institute in the years 2000-2004. The analysis included 12 civil court cases where the plaintiffs demanded compensation for falling victim to myocardial infarction in a work setting. In the majority of cases (11), it was concluded that professional tasks performed during work-time did not meet the criteria of an occupational accident and the most prominent factor that caused cardiac muscle necrosis was internal rather than external in character. In one case, where the plaintiff's professional duties were not only associated with mental stress and a prolonged lack of rest, but were also performed in adverse weather conditions and required sustained and considerable physical effort, it was established that working conditions exerted a significant effect on the occurrence of a myocardial infarction. Opinionating in the above presented cases posed a significant problem due to the lack of legal criteria that would define the term of an "occupational accident".
Bloch-Bogusławska
Elzbieta
E
Katedry i Zakładu Medycyny Sadowej, Collegium Medicum im. Ludwika Rydygiera w Bydgoszczy UMK w Toruniu.
Wolska
Ewa
E
Engelgardt
Piotr
P
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000328:Adult; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D009787:Occupational Medicine / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011044:Poland; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016526:Workload