Posted By Helen Jones
A customer attended a training course at our company recently. While they were here, they demonstrated epilectic symptoms (staring into space while twirling a plate round) and were completely unaware of what they had done.
Their own company had no medical personnel as such and I was told by my manager (who witnessed the event) that the customer's manager must be told that the person could be epileptic.
Was this ethical? The person concerned was unaware of their possibly having epilepsy, and I wasn't sure of how to broach it, or even if I should.

Posted By Helen Jones
Thanks Paul.

The customer will visit their GP tomorrow to talk it over.

Helen.

Posted By Nigel Singleton BSc
The symptoms you describe are indicative of petit mal epilepsy (little poorly). If the customer works in a setting where this condition could cause them harm, then arrangements should be made to protect their safety, however be careful of violating their rights to privacy. Whilst an employer may have a right to know, common knowledge amongst other employees could be deemed as an invasion of the persons privacy.
This situation is very difficult to handle at the best of times.