Sometimes, a worker develops a lingering illness that is difficult for the family physician to diagnose and he is treated with medications that alleviate the symptoms but general malaise and weakness continue. If the family physician did not inquire into the details of the patient’s occupational duties and environment, the worker may continue to be exposed to harmful substances when the best treatment should have been removal from the exposure. Under the above circumstances, pulmonologists or occupational medical specialists should be consulted and workers compensation benefits would be available if it can be determined that the illness or injury resulted from the exposure.

(Reviewed 9-08)