Textbook of Maritime Medicine

Whenever a seafarer is hospitalized, the maritime physician should closely follow-up the case and actively participate in the process of diagnosis and treatment. The maritime physician should make sure that the necessary care is given but also not more than the necessary care.

The role of the maritime physician is to bring up elements of interest for the diagnosis and treatment that relate to life on board and the particular history of a patient. He has to make sure that the hospital specialists and their assistants get background information on the patient. The port physician will take an intermediate position between the hospital care and all agencies and individuals that take an interest in the health of the seafarer. The maritime physician gives help to get the seafarer home safely as quick as possible.