“I have received no more than five complaints this year regarding the accompaniment of patients to the medical officer,” Haagen said in an interview with our colleagues from RTL.lu on Tuesday, in response to a report in which the Patient Advocacy Group (Patientevertriedung) demands that a patient summoned to the medical officer should be able to be accompanied by a third party. The Minister reiterated what he had previously stated in response to a parliamentary question: the summons to the medical officer is limited to a check on sick leave.
It should be noted, however, that the medical officer’s job does not end there. Their medical opinion is sought, among other reasons, for the reclassification procedure or if an employee needs to be professionally reoriented. The Minister explained that when it comes to checking sick leave, the patient can ask to be accompanied, after which a decision is taken on a case-by-case basis.
Haagen stressed that there is currently no legal framework in place on this matter “We do make exceptions when necessary. Both the patient and the doctor must, however, agree.”
According to the minister from the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP), it should also be made clear who exactly can accompany a patient:
“Does this also mean that lawyers can be present, that the doctor can also be accompanied? Where does the system start and where does it end,” Haagen wonders.
Concerning the accusations, particularly regarding a lack of respect, that were submitted to the Patient Advocacy Group, our colleagues from RTL.lu attempted but failed to obtain a statement from the head of the Social Security Medical Board. When contacted for an interview, Dr Gerard Holbach stated that he agrees with what the minister has said.
