[Efficiency of the patient's signature in examinations performed by the occupational medicine doctor].

BACKGROUND

A special relationship occurring between the doctor and the patient, besides many stipulations of the ethical nature, is controlled by numerous legal regulations. In the Polish legislative system, there are no clear and unequivocal regulations that would precisely define the diagnostic-therapeutic process. Communication, namely the exchange of information between the doctor and the patient plays a particular role in this process in which the doctor bears much greater responsibility than the patient, and thus is obliged to provide the patient with the comprehensible information presented in such a way that he or she would be able to interpret it properly.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The analysis comprised the binding legislation concerning prophylactic examination as well as drivers examination. The problem was discussed taking into account the current court judgments.

RESULTS

The doctor should pay particular attention to adjusting the quality, quantity and way of conveying the information to the patient's ability to acquire and interpret it properly. This ability is associated with the patient's personal traits. There are no algorithms for the doctor-patient communication. The occupational medicine doctors are in a better situation as legislative regulations pertaining to specificity of their health services may indicate proper communication between the doctor and the patient.

CONCLUSIONS

The importance of this communication has been notified in the legislative doctrine, where the idea of informative mistake has been formed. Such a mistake may have significant consequences especially for the occupational medicine doctors due to the specificity of performed functions. The article discusses legislative aspects concerning the exchange of information at the doctor-patient level, and presents some examples of judgments of Polish courts as well as numerous indications useful in everyday practice.