health information
Is drug testing for a job an invasion of privacy?
As far as medical conditions are concerned it is the patients right to keep that information a secret. Do you feel that drug testing is forcing you to disclose medical conditions which should remain private?
No I am not talking about illegal drugs.
If you read the question you can plainly see I am speaking in regards to medical conditions.
I know that refusing to take the test is an automatic denial. I also know that you can use synthetic or urine from someone with no medical conditions.
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#2 written by Timothy S 2 years ago
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#3 written by sgoldperson 2 years ago
I never heard of a MEDICAL drug test. Yes they find medications when looking for illegal drugs. This is for two reasons, one is for people who abuse “legal” drugs to get around using illegal ones. There are people that use insulin that don’t need it for example. The other reason is because drugs show up and they can see if you have a medical condition that could explain the “illegal” drugs being in you. For instance you think you have the right to privacy so you don’t disclose an illness. Well they find “illegal” drugs in you, BUT you were using them legally. Well knowing your medical condition they can confirm that it’s legal. So they look to see if anything else shows up as well as questioning you.
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#4 written by SA Writer 2 years ago
I assume you’re talking about illegal drugs or substances. The use of illegal substances is not protected under privacy laws. The employer has an absolute right, even a responsibility, to provide a safe work environment. Illegal drug use is antithetical to a safe work place. Don’t do the crime and you won’t have to worry about the drug test.
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#6 written by Mutt 2 years ago
Medical conditions are one thing. Doing illegal drugs is something totally different.
If you have a prescription for something that shows positive on a drug test, you can show them your prescription, but you don’t have to go into detail on why you have the prescription if you don’t want to. All they need is proof that it is a legitimate prescription.
If you test positive for a drug you are taking illegally, there is no medical privacy issues.
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#9 written by Am 2 years ago
No because you only have to report any medications that you may be taking to the place doing the drug screen. That way they can rule out that medication if it shows up on the drug screen. They do not report those medications to your employer, only if you passed or failed. If you were to fail they may tell them what it is they found in your system. Most companies do not do their own drug testing, but have it done by an outside agency which must protect your privacy by law.
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Would you seriously want the airline pilot flying you on holiday to be stoned out of his mind? For some professions, yes, drug testing is necessary both for the safety of the public and the safety of the individual. There are probably jobs where the worst you could do if you were drugged up would be to be slapdash, but where do you draw the line? Do you test pilots and surgeons but not street sweepers or painters?
Medical conditions requiring the taking of prescription drugs should be disclosed to the employer anyway. They should be aware if someone is suffering from depression or schizophrenia surely? What about HIV? They would need to know this person could pose a risk to others in event of them bleeding. Yes drug testing for both legal and illegal drugs is justifiable.