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How do doctors assess a person's ability to work?

Dr Mary Wyatt

Medical assessments of work capacity are not always defined by what a worker is capable of. Should they be, or is it reasonable for doctors to take other factors into account?

Questions about an individual’s work capacity are often presented in simple terms.  Doctors are asked: "Is your patient capable of doing this or that job?"   Or even: "Is your patient capable of doing this job safely, i.e. without risk to their health?"   A black and white “Yes / No” answer is expected. But generally speaking, these aren't the questions that doctors ask themselves when they assess work capacit...

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