[Ethics in occupational health]

The author considers the doctor-patient relationship according to modern ethic concepts. He underscores the total respect owed to his individuality, providing him with all the data available on his health, so he may use it at his discretion. Next, he presents the concept of occupational health, pointing out its multiprofessional and multidisciplinary character, and specifying its level of activity (factory, labor union, government departments, etc.). He then details the extraordinary divergence of interests between the employer and the factory employee which often places the factory doctor, at least as viewed by workers, as an employer's accomplice. He stresses the importance of existing legal instruments, such as the Federal Constitution, the Labor Act, and the Medical Ethics Code as being ideologically progressive. However, he also points out the difficulties faced for an effective performance.