Occupational health practice and exposure to nanoparticles: reconciling scientific evidence, ethical aspects, and legal requirements.
The paper aims at focusing the relationship between scientific evidence and ethical values' issues of occupational health practice according to the new Italian law 81/2008 stating that the occupational health physician (OHP) is required to act according to the Code of Ethics of the International Commission on Occupational Health. The code itself emphasizes that (i) the practice should be relevant, knowledge-based, sound, and appropriate to the occupational risks and (ii) the objectives and methods of health surveillance must be clearly defined. Because exposure to nanoparticles involves several uncertainties about health effects and may limit the effectiveness of workers' health surveillance, OHPs face a several ethical dilemmas, involving different stakeholders. The dilemmas arising from the practice should be dealt with according to the ethical principles of beneficence, autonomy, and justice in order to take a decision.
Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, School of Medicine of Modena, Modena, Italy.
Giuliano
G
Franco
D003657:Decision Making / Q000941:ethics; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D009787:Occupational Medicine / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D017751:Safety Management / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence