Types and Use of Medical Examinations

A conditional-offer medical examination does not have to be job-related and consistent with business necessity. The examination can assess a person's general physical or mental health without having to be geared to specific job duties or requirements. Nevertheless, if the results of an examination are used to screen out certain individuals with disabilities, the EEOC regulations require that the ''exclusionary criteria must be job-related and consistent with business necessity, and performance of the essential job functions cannot be accomplished with reasonable accommodation.'' In other words, an employer may not use the results of any post-offer medical examination to eliminate a qualified individual with a disability on the basis of his or her particular disability.