Do they have the right?

[butterflynurse03, RN]

If a person is started on some new medications and during their adjustment period there are some side effects that are....unwanted. If this person is sent home and told (by the occ health md) that they could not work in their current position unless these medications were discontinued by their doctor. That the person couldn't be allowed to work as the "adjustment" could take years, even though the person had made no medical error and all patient documentation was accurate. Is this doctor allowed to say that? Is it ethical for the doctor to tell that person's doctor what meds can be used for treatment of a medical condition. Meds that have effects that go away, or are adjusted to the patient's sensitivity level? How does a person get past a situation like this? How do they show that they are okay and ready to return to work? Should that person look for a new position elsewhere?

comments? advice?

[fluffwad]

I believe they have the right to say that a person cannot work in certain positions when they are taking certain kinds of medications.

I wouldn't want to be an OR or ER nurse who's having trouble with side effects that cause a loss of concentration, for example.

The idea is to avoid potential problems r/t those unwanted side effects, not wait until something happens and then react. That's why pilots aren't allowed to fly after they've taken certain types of drugs......you should see the regulations they've got ( http://www.leftseat.com/medcat1.htm )

Would you care be a bit more specific?

[elkpark]

I agree with fluffwad -- the OH doc is not telling the person's doc what meds can or cannot be used to treat the person's medical condition; the OH doc is saying that a person who is taking the meds that have been ordered is not safe (at least for the time being) to work in a particular position. Seems to me that's part of the OH doc's job, to be responsible for medical decisions related to safety in that workplace.

As for getting past the situation and showing that one is ready to return to work in a particular position, has "that person" talked with the OH doc about how this could be worked out (what would be acceptable to the OH doc)? I guess that whether or not to look for a new job would depend on whether this was a temporary or permanent situation ...

Best wishes.