病気になっても、仕事をあきらめない。 Don't Give Up on Work Just Because You're Ill

 

病気になっても、仕事をあきらめない。

― 第46回「勤務医と開業医の集い」に参加して ―

10月22日、いわき市医師会主催の第46回「勤務医と開業医の集い」に参加しました。

今回のテーマは「治療と仕事の両立支援」。講師は、おおみや産業医合同会社の杣田望（そまた のぞむ）先生です。

病気になったとき、私たちは治療のことを第一に考えます。しかし、患者さんにとっては仕事も大切な生活の一部です。

「治療しながら働けるだろうか」
「職場に迷惑をかけるのではないか」
「いっそ退職した方がいいのだろうか」

そんな悩みを抱える方は少なくありません。

2026年4月から、企業が治療と仕事の両立を支援することが努力義務となりました。

講演で印象的だったのは、患者さんのためを思って書いた医師の診断書が、かえって復職を難しくしてしまうことがあるというお話です。

例えば、主治医が「復職後2か月間は半日勤務が望ましい」と書いても、会社の制度では半日勤務が1か月しか認められていなければ、復職できないと判断される場合があります。

医師は病気の専門家ですが、患者さんの会社の就業規則までは、なかなか知りません。

そこで大切になるのが、職場の事情を理解する「産業医」との連携です。

そして、質疑応答では、仕事を辞めようと考えている患者さんへの声かけについても話題になりました。

杣田先生の助言は、とてもシンプルでした。

「辞めると決める前に、少し待って、会社に相談してみてはどうでしょう」

本人が知らないだけで、利用できる支援制度があるかもしれないからです。

私自身、総合診療医として患者さんの病気だけでなく、暮らしや人生まで診ることを大切にしています。

今回の講演で、改めて気づかされました。

仕事もまた、その人の人生の大切な一部なのだと。

病気になっても、すぐに仕事をあきらめなくていい。

医療と職場が手を取り合うことで、守れる暮らしがあります。

杣田先生、貴重なお話をありがとうございました。

Don't Give Up on Work Just Because You're Ill

— Reflections on the 46th Meeting of Hospital-Based and Community Physicians —

On October 22, 2026, I attended the 46th Meeting of Hospital-Based and Community Physicians, organized by the Iwaki Medical Association.

The theme was “Supporting People in Balancing Medical Treatment and Work.”

Our guest speaker was Dr. Nozomu Somata, an occupational physician and representative of Omiya Occupational Health Physicians LLC.

When someone becomes ill, medical treatment naturally becomes a priority. But for patients, work is also an important part of everyday life.

“Can I continue working while receiving treatment?”

“Will I become a burden to my colleagues?”

“Would it be better to resign?”

These are concerns many patients face.

In April 2026, Japan introduced a new legal requirement for employers to make reasonable efforts to support employees in balancing medical treatment and work.

One particularly memorable point from the lecture was that a medical certificate written with the best intentions can sometimes make it harder for a patient to return to work.

For example, a physician might recommend that a patient work half-days for two months after returning from medical leave.

However, if the company's employment rules allow reduced working hours for only one month, the employer may conclude that the employee cannot yet return to work under those conditions.

Physicians understand diseases and medical treatment, but we rarely know the details of our patients' workplace policies.

This is where occupational physicians play an essential role.

They understand both medicine and the workplace, helping patients and employers find practical ways to support a safe return to work.

During the question-and-answer session, another important issue arose: What should physicians say when a patient is thinking about quitting their job because of illness?

Dr. Somata offered a simple but meaningful suggestion:

“You can always decide to resign later. Before making that decision, why not wait a little and talk to your employer?”

There may be workplace support programs or flexible arrangements that the patient does not yet know about.

As a general practitioner, I have always believed that our responsibility extends beyond treating diseases. We must also understand our patients' daily lives, families, and personal circumstances.

This lecture reminded me of something important:

Work, too, is an essential part of a person's life.

Becoming ill should not automatically mean giving up one's job.

When healthcare professionals and workplaces communicate and collaborate, we can help protect not only people's health, but also their livelihoods, dignity, and sense of purpose.

Thank you, Dr. Somata, for an insightful and thought-provoking lecture.