[sarusso]

Context, before some one gets me wrong. My first reaction would be like the others: "illegal, invasive, don't do it".

However, trying to give a different point of view, they might need some sort of proof to justify internally or with the government something (i.e. an under-performance or too many ill days). For example, here in Italy we have the so called "protected categories", for which employers (bot public and private) must hire in a given percentage above a certain number of staff, and must have a certification of the condition causing to belong to such categories. But, this does not involve accessing patient records by any means.

So, on the baseline I agree with the others on the "don't do it line", and if I were you I would seek legal advice. But there is a small chance that it is not as bad as it seems.

[II2II]

Different situations and different country, but all of the correspondence I've seen between medical professionals and employers has been specific on what the employee needs and silent on everything else. Nothing is open to interpretation, nor provides extraneous information.

I will echo what others have said: get a lawyer. The laws of their jurisdiction will play a role. If those laws don't offer them protection in this regard, they may have some difficult decisions to make.

[toyg]

An adversarial measure like locking accounts is unlikely to be the result of a bureaucratic issue like the one you describe.

Much more likely, the boss got wind of some "mental instability" and now doesn't trust the worker; or was already looking for excuses to fire him and thinks he's now found it.

[mrslave]

Yes, this would involve getting your doctor (general practitioner or specialist) to write and sign a one-sentence letter confirming you suffer the condition -- with your approval of course. It would not involve exposing every medical detail.

[sarusso]

To anyone who commented, I of course agree with you. And you are right saying that locking the accounts is unlikely to be the result of a bureaucratic issue. As as I said, very little chance that is not as bad as it seems.