Pregnancy and medical training using the examples of cardiology and internal intensive care medicine

The German Maternity Protection Act was first enacted in 1952 and has since been revised multiple times to ensure the protection of pregnant employees. The 2018 reform introduced significant updates to align the law with the modern labor market and the needs of expectant mothers. The aims are twofold: protecting the health of mothers and their unborn children and reducing occupational disadvantages. One of the most important measures that employers have been required to implement since 2018 is the individual risk assessment. This workplace analysis takes into account the pregnant employee's health condition and the specific workplace environment. The goal is to enable pregnant women to continue working whenever possible, with general employment restrictions only applied when absolutely necessary. A key example of the feasibility and importance of individual risk assessments can be seen in demanding medical fields such as cardiology and internal intensive care medicine. These fields often present potential health risks due to exposure to infectious agents or the physical strains associated with shift work. As a result, medical societies and employers are called upon to develop tailored protection plans that enable pregnant physicians to continue working, provided that neither their own health nor that of their unborn child is at risk. It is therefore more important for more professional societies to address the topic of pregnancy and maternity protection, to inform their members about the legal framework and guidelines, and to provide them with a template on how to practically facilitate professional participation during pregnancy and breastfeeding in their respective fields or individual stages of training. This approach could serve as a model for other medical societies. A position paper evaluating all stages of training within each field could help provide clear guidance on occupational safety during pregnancy, reducing uncertainty for both employees and employers.