Recommendations for fitness for work medical evaluations in chronic respiratory patients. Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR)

• Published in: Archivos de bronconeumología (English ed.) 2013-11, Vol.49 (11), p.480-490
• Main Authors: Martínez González, Cristina, González Barcala, Francisco Javier, Belda Ramírez, José, González Ros, Isabel, Alfageme Michavila, Inmaculada, Orejas Martínez, Cristina, González Rodríguez-Moro, José Miguel, Rodríguez Portal, José Antonio, Fernández Álvarez, Ramón
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; spa
• Subjects: Accidents - legislation & jurisprudence; Chronic Disease; Diagnostic Techniques, Respiratory System - standards; Humans; Insurance, Disability - legislation & jurisprudence; Medical Records - standards; Occupational Diseases - diagnosis; Occupational Diseases - physiopathology; Occupational Diseases - rehabilitation; Polysomnography - standards; Research Report; Respiration Disorders - classification; Respiration Disorders - diagnosis; Respiration Disorders - physiopathology; Respiration Disorders - rehabilitation; Respiratory Function Tests - standards; Respiratory Therapy; Severity of Illness Index; Social Security - legislation & jurisprudence; Social Security - organization & administration; Spain; Truth Disclosure; Work Capacity Evaluation; Workers' Compensation - legislation & jurisprudence
• ISSN: 1579-2129
• DOI: 10.1016/j.arbres.2013.06.004

Chronic respiratory diseases often cause impairment in the functions and/or structure of the respiratory system, and impose limitations on different activities in the lives of persons who suffer them. In younger patients with an active working life, these limitations can cause problems in carrying out their normal work. Article 41 of the Spanish Constitution states that «the public authorities shall maintain a public Social Security system for all citizens guaranteeing adequate social assistance and benefits in situations of hardship». Within this framework is the assessment of fitness for work, as a dual-nature process (medico-legal) that aims to determine whether it is appropriate or not to recognise a person's right to receive benefits which replace the income that they no longer receive as they cannot carry out their work, due to loss of health. The role of the pulmonologist is essential in evaluating the diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and functional capacity of respiratory patients. These recommendations seek to bring the complex setting of fitness for work evaluation to pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons, providing action guidelines that allow them to advise their own patients about their incorporation into working life.