Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to fail to disclose pregnancy in pre-employment medical test?

73 replies

Calmondeck · 01/01/2023 02:58

It may be illegal to do this, in which case I am definitely BU. But am fairly stressed about losing a job I’ve been offered and interested in your perspectives…

In short, I have been offered dream job in international organisation subject to intensive/standard for the org pre-employment medical screening (X-rays, eye test, hearing, the lot). I have taken a similar test for the same organisation before and passed with no problem.

This time - I am early early days pregnant. Because of a retroverted uterus, the dating scan wasn’t able to detect a heartbeat, so at this point I don’t even know whether the pregnancy is viable.

however on the test I need to answer two questions:
Date of last menstrual period (I don’t actually know this because I am still breastfeeding and have extremely irregular periods)
Pregnant (yes / no)

I should note that this is an organisation wide test so is suitable for colleagues going to far flung places but I will be desk-based in a European city.

WWYD?

OP posts:
Aprilx · 01/01/2023 03:02

I wouldn’t answer the questions. I have worked for multinational organisations, here and overseas over the last thirty years and no employer has ever needed to know the date of my last period.

NewYearNora · 01/01/2023 03:03

Well you ARE pregnant, as far as you know; so I don't see how you can lie on that one.

Even if you say no now, then you will have to fess up as soon as the pregnancy is confirmed.

Motnight · 01/01/2023 03:06

Aprilx · 01/01/2023 03:02

I wouldn’t answer the questions. I have worked for multinational organisations, here and overseas over the last thirty years and no employer has ever needed to know the date of my last period.

This. I can't believe that asking for the date of your last period is reasonable or acceptable.

RiverSkater · 01/01/2023 03:06

I'm sure legally they can't ask those questions.

But if it's an online form I would lie.

nocoolnamesleft · 01/01/2023 03:07

You'd be an idiot to not declare your pregnancy if this involves xrays. Foetuses in early pregnancy are sensitive to radiation. Having clinically unnecessary xrays in early pregnancies, because you're trying to skate through a medical, is a risky strategy that you could come to deeply regret.

ArcticSkewer · 01/01/2023 03:11

is this for the medical insurance?

Original poster
Calmondeck · 01/01/2023 03:23

Yes, I’m worried about the X-ray but it’s only for the chest.
@ArcticSkewer i don’t think it’s for insurance purposes, I’m fairly sure it’s just a standard test that’s done for everyone because most colleagues are based on remote places

OP posts:
EmmaEmerald · 01/01/2023 03:31

I'm wondering why you need to answer medical questions for a desk job

the period thing is particularly mad. But I don't think it's right to lie about the pregnancy.

Blueborage · 01/01/2023 03:32

You cant risk that x-ray when they don't know your pregnant. I mean they would surely use a lead apron if they knew and wouldnt do it unless it was medically necessary.

Coyoacan · 01/01/2023 03:35

Get proper advice about the effect of xrays. You don't want to bring a severely disabled child into the world

Original poster
Calmondeck · 01/01/2023 03:35

Yes, first time round I found it mind blowing that this was acceptable to ask. Now I’ve come to accept the invasive quirks of the place. For my first pregnancy, same organisation, my OB/GYN recommended I cut back at work in the 3rd trimester as my baby was growing fast and she predicted it might come early. Work medical people did their own “evaluation”, including quizzing me on FGM, and concluded I was no risk of early labour. Baby arrived 3+ weeks early.

OP posts:
Bigbadfish · 01/01/2023 03:37

Calmondeck · 01/01/2023 03:35

Yes, first time round I found it mind blowing that this was acceptable to ask. Now I’ve come to accept the invasive quirks of the place. For my first pregnancy, same organisation, my OB/GYN recommended I cut back at work in the 3rd trimester as my baby was growing fast and she predicted it might come early. Work medical people did their own “evaluation”, including quizzing me on FGM, and concluded I was no risk of early labour. Baby arrived 3+ weeks early.

Are you in the USA?

Thingiemajig · 01/01/2023 03:45

These are crazy questions for a desk bound role in the U.K so guess it’s for health insurance? I would give them your last period date but state the word ‘irregular’ afterwards. If it’s safe to have a chest X-ray while pregnant I wouldn’t say anything and answer no. If it’s not safe to have a chest X-ray I would answer yes and add ‘heartbeat not located due to womb’. Having offered you the job they would be in deep water legally if they retracted due to your pregnancy. There is legislation around this to protect women.

BarbaraofSeville · 01/01/2023 06:10

Coyoacan · 01/01/2023 03:35

Get proper advice about the effect of xrays. You don't want to bring a severely disabled child into the world

A single chest X-ray is very very unlikely to affect the development of an unborn child.

X-rays during pregnancy are a contraindication due to the small extra risk across a large number of people and most exposures are so low dose that they could be taken, if medically necessary, with appropriate precautions (lead apron over the lower abdomen) as the radiation is the same as a day or two of background radiation.

However, in this case, it's a non-medical exposure under the relevant regulations and it has to be justified on this basis, ie there has to be sufficient benefit to the employer who's put the policy in place, as decided by a radiologist. I'd be asking questions about this- they are also required to explain the benefits and risks of the exposure to the person being x-rayed.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/ionising-radiation-medical-exposure-regulations-2017-guidance

The above gives the guidance, look at 11(3) and one of the employers procedures under reg 21.

Toddlerteaplease · 01/01/2023 06:24

I agree with a PP. asking for perked dates is not acceptable at all. Even though it's not the UK. It's still a nope!

Toddlerteaplease · 01/01/2023 06:31

The radiographer will have to ask you if you are pregnant. You will have to tell the truth do appropriate precautions can be taken. Though if there is no medical indication for one then you should not have an X-RAY

WandaWonder · 01/01/2023 06:39

No don't lie, I can't imagine one reason why you should lie

Mamaneedsadrink · 01/01/2023 06:47

I think if this is for insurance you may need to be honest as there will be a record and I don't know if it would count as fraud if itvwas investigated? I think you'd need to speak to someone with a bit more knowledge in this area. Can you just say unsure re the pregnancy question?

Helenloveslee4eva · 01/01/2023 06:53

Motnight · 01/01/2023 03:06

This. I can't believe that asking for the date of your last period is reasonable or acceptable.

Show quote history

They are going to xray her. Thry have to ask.
op put the health check if a few weeks.

Moopi · 01/01/2023 07:04

I would not consent to a medically unnecessary xray whether I was pregnant or not. If they force you to do this are you sure it's an organisation you want to work for? Why don't they have any flexibility for desk based workers?

marcopront · 01/01/2023 07:23

When you tell them you are pregnant, they will be able to tell you lied on the form. Would that count as misconduct? Could they fire you for that?

bigdecisionstomake · 01/01/2023 07:26

Agree it's not an acceptable question to ask but in terms of offering a practical solution could you write something like "currently breastfeeding so not menstruating" for date of last period and "Not known - see above" against are you pregnant? Will the form allow for freehand answers?

If you are very early doors it is entirely possible that you wouldn't know you were pregnant at this point.

If you've had the job offer already it's surely illegal to discriminate against you on the grounds of pregnancy or breastfeeding?

WeWereInParis · 01/01/2023 07:27

Calmondeck · 01/01/2023 03:35

Yes, first time round I found it mind blowing that this was acceptable to ask. Now I’ve come to accept the invasive quirks of the place. For my first pregnancy, same organisation, my OB/GYN recommended I cut back at work in the 3rd trimester as my baby was growing fast and she predicted it might come early. Work medical people did their own “evaluation”, including quizzing me on FGM, and concluded I was no risk of early labour. Baby arrived 3+ weeks early.

And this is somewhere you want to work?

IsEveryDayReallyASchoolDay · 01/01/2023 07:27

This may be controversial but I feel that a company has a right to know you are pregnant if you are only going to be there a matter of months and then possibly take a year off.

BarbaraofSeville · 01/01/2023 07:42

Controversial or not, the law says that this company cannot discriminate against a pregnant woman. They've offered her a job. If they were to withdraw the offer because she is pregnant, that would be illegal.