[Working pregnant in urology! : Assessments by chief physicians and presentation of liability risks]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

In Germany, approximately 1500 female physicians become pregnant each year. This also applies to urologys. The announcement of a pregnancy is often met with ignorance and unanswered questions by chief physicians and colleagues. The aim of this study is to clarify how urological chief physicians assess the current situation and to present liability risks versus health risks.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From July to October 2019, an anonymous online questionnaire was sent to 340 chief physicians by the Working Group Young Urologists of the German Society of Urology (DGU). The questionnaire asked about the risk assessment of the workplace, the timing of a pregnancy announcement, and the employment possibilities of pregnant employees in urology. In addition, a law firm was commissioned to prepare a brief legal opinion on the topic of medical work and surgery during pregnancy with specific reference to the field of urology, including any liability risks.

RESULTS

In all, 62 chief physicians participated in the survey (18.2%): 93.5% of the respondents considered an anticipatory risk assessment of the workplace for pregnant women to be useful; 82.3% would appreciate an overlapping recruitment by the employer. Respondents (62.9%) were skeptical of pregnant employees operating. Taking into account the regulations of the Maternity Protection Act, the liability risk does not exceed that which the employer generally has to bear.

CONCLUSION

The amendment of the Maternity Protection Act has not fundamentally changed the reality for female urologists. However, the individual risk assessment provides an opportunity to develop concrete protective measures-also for the operating room-with the employer. The aim must be to provide pregnant women with greater support in asserting their rights in the future.