The application of Ontario human rights legislation to the practice of occupational medicine

Although human rights legislation has important implications for occupation al physicians, these implications may be overlooked in the practice of occu pational medicine in other countries where human rights legislation may be different. The potential for significant oversights becomes greater as orga nizations continue to centralize international business support functions, such as occupational health services, operating from a single site. Human r ights legislation has important implications with respect to policy decisio ns upon which an occupational physician has influence. This includes decisi ons about whether to conduct drug and alcohol testing; the performance of m edical examinations; evaluating issues related to health and safety concern s of pregnant employees; and the need to work accommodate those with handic aps as defined by human rights legislation. This article examines the appli cation of the Ontario human rights legislation in these areas.