Doctors refuse child labor protection examinations – parents in distress!

Doctors refuse child labor protection examinations – parents in distress!

What does it currently look like for young people in the region when it comes to the necessary youth labor protection investigation? More and more parents are reporting difficulties in getting an appointment for this important examination. One affected mother described how she was stunned after a veritable telephone marathon: “Should I haggle with the doctor?” Northern Courier reports similar experiences in several federal states, especially in the Mecklenburg Lake District.

The reality is that pediatricians and family doctors in Neubrandenburg no longer carry out these examinations. This puts many parents and young people under pressure, because the youth labor protection examination is legally mandatory. This examination must be completed before a training contract is signed to ensure that the health and development of the young workers is not compromised. According to the LAGuS, young people, i.e. people who are 15 but not yet 18 years old, must undergo a medical examination before their first employment LAGuS.

Doctors and appointment problems

The law requires that examinations be carried out by qualified doctors. General practitioners are generally entitled to carry out youth work protection examinations, but the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians refers to the Youth Work Protection Act, which leads many doctors to no longer offer these examinations. This means that affected parents often receive the same answer: “We are no longer doing this examination,” as the mother reported.|Every examination should be documented by an examination authorization certificate, which is issued by the responsible registration authority.

Interestingly, the LAGuS appeals to pediatricians to continue carrying out these important examinations because the remuneration is considered too low. An additional problem arises from the fact that the affected mother will have to see a doctor again next year because the medical officer who finally referred her is not responsible. The health authorities are under great pressure to improve the situation.

Legal framework and health protection

A detailed look at the regulations shows that the initial examination is mandatory to ensure that young people are medically suitable for their chosen profession. Without a medical certificate, which must not be older than 14 months at the start of the activity, the employment of young people under the age of 18 is a criminal offense BGETEM.

Follow-up visits are also important and must be done within the first year and annually thereafter to ensure that no health problems have developed. This obligation not only protects young people, but also contributes to general safety in the workplace. The tense dialogue between the states and the federal government to revise the fee schedule for doctors creates another potential solution to this plight.

The situation therefore remains tense and shows how important it is that health care and occupational safety go hand in hand. It remains to be hoped that the appeals to the doctors and the measures taken by the health authorities will soon bear fruit in order to secure the rights and health of young people.