Legal considerations in worker fitness evaluations

Physicians performing worker fitness evaluations need to walk a very fine line. On the one hand, if they too-aggressively disqualify individuals, their actions may be illegal under handicap or other discrimination laws. On the other hand, if they are too lenient, the result may be injury or illness to the worker or even risks to public safety. Physicians must realize the unique nature of this type of medical examination and the close connection between law and medicine in this area.