The unhealthy physician.
BACKGROUND
Physicians, if affected by transmissible or impairing diseases, could be hazardous for third persons.


OBJECTIVE
To solve the apparent chasm between patient's and sick worker's rights, a consensus-building process leading to hospital-wide policies is the better alternative to individual decision making.


CONCLUSIONS
Policies have to balance the rights of the sick worker, the right of the other workers, patients and customers, and society's expectations.
Magnavita
Nicola
N
Institute of Occupational Medicine, Catholic University School of Medicine, Largo Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy. nicolamagnavita@tiscali.it
D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000635:transmission; D030881:Disclosure / Q000941:ethics; D026690:Ethics, Clinical; D006806:Human Rights; D006801:Humans; D017757:Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient; D008318:Malpractice; D009786:Occupational Health Services; D010815:Physician Impairment; D018907:Privacy; D011634:Public Health