Medical Privacy Concern

[Teamcasa]

Unfortunately, I have had occassion to put myself at risk to save another diver's life. Fortunately, the diver's life was saved and I was fine. But I can assure you if I should die or get hurt trying to save someone who shouldn't have been diving in the first place I'm gonna be really pissed.

At a minimum it would seem to be appropriate to let me know that - at least when it comes to diving - you have less regard for your life than I do. I could then make an informed decision about whether I'm gonna risk my life to save your's. (Don't worry, I'll still jump off the boat. But that's MY decision, not your's.)

I agree completely with you on this point.

 

[Riger]

IMHO

The whole purpose of a medical form has nothing to do with your health, it has to do with the agency not wanting legal responsibility for your health matters that could hurt you physically and them financially for not warning you.

As has been pointed out previously, however you choose to "manage your responses" on the form is your choice, but not following the process will probably disqualify you from the service that you are applying for.

 

[fdog]

<sigh>

I guess today's society is "it's all about me."

From the point of view of the person filling out the form:
"I want to dive. This form may embarrass me and so I'll just lie"

From the point of view of the Instructor:
"I don't want the trauma of dragging someone from the water and getting sued."

From the point of view of the shop:
"We don't want the loss of reputation, bad publicity in the media, and higher insurance costs."

Usually, the only reason you're filling out the form is because you are in a class; and everything on the checkboxes is something that could be dangerous in the water.

<shrugs> Lie if you want. Just keep in mind the person you're really lying to is yourself, and who else gets hurt when something goes wrong.


All the best, James

 

[RJP]

Oh, now wait a minute. Did you not mention volunteering just above? You volunteered for this job. You might even volunteer to save someone. That's all on you, my friend.

Or YOU could not dive. No one is dragging you into a shop and forcing you to work there.

You seem to be upset that even though someone might get clearance from their doctor and the thumbs up from DAN

Classic misdirection technique when engaged in an argument: arguing against a point no one is making.

I'm talking about someone LYING on the form.

If they are truthful on the form, and that results in the need for physician clearance, and then the physician provides such clearance, there's no problem.

If they LIE on the form, that's a problem.

 

[RJP]

Besides which, we "potentially reduce the amount of time" many different people "have left" every time we leave our house.

And at some point in the continuum that notion can become "wreckless disregard" or "negligence" from a legal standpoint.

As the saying goes...

Your right to swing your arm ends at the tip of my nose.

 

[NudeDiver]

I'm talking about someone LYING on the form.

If they are truthful on the form, and that results in the need for physician clearance, and then the physician provides such clearance, there's no problem.

If they LIE on the form, that's a problem.

If they lie on the form and go get a physician clearance anyway, and the physician provides such clearance, then what's the difference?

And at some point in the continuum that notion can become "wreckless disregard"

Wreckless is usually considered a GOOD thing...unless of course, someone wants to go wreck diving.

Your right to swing your arm ends at the tip of my nose.

As another saying goes, "keep your nose out of my business".

 

[Sas]

I can really see the issue that the OP is having. I can understand why dive medicals are required by many training agencies, particularly for new divers as they may have no idea what kinds of things may make diving dangerous. I think it is absolutely up to people to make their own risk assessment and I have no problem with people diving with serious medical conditions if that is what they want and once they know all the possible consequences of their actions. Personal responsibility you know?

When it comes to a dive operator asking for personal medical information with no guarantee of privacy well I have serious problems with that. If I show a dive medical signed off by a doctor, that should be the end of any questions they have regarding my fitness to dive.

I have had *many* medical issues in the past that would have meant no one would have signed me off for diving, however none of these have been relevant for at least five years. However, medical forms I have been given ask if one has "ever" had certain medical issues not about what is relevant now. I have answered honestly in the past but have found it too much of a hassle as then I have to go through my medical history, which is private, completely irrelevant to my level of health today and once I've told people about it there has been no issue with me diving. So now I would just lie or refuse to fill out the questionnaire. I would possibly consider being honest if the information was guaranteed to be private but I do not trust random dive shops with that kind of information...

 

[adurso]

Great idea. Not.

I know at least one diver who is a former (deceased) diver who did just what you're suggesting. If he hadn't done that, he'd probably be alive today.

Call me thick; but for my edification could you please explain the proximal causality between the diver's prevarication and demise?

 

[RJP]

Call me thick; but for my edification could you please explain the proximal causality between the diver's prevarication and demise?

OK. You're thick. Though not so much that you couldn't find a thesaurus to add a bit of an innapropriate mocking tone in a discussion of a husband and father of two dieing.

 

[knotical]

A couple of folks have said they are required to list their medications. The RSTC form, used by several major agencies only asks:

Are you presently taking prescription medications? (with the exception of birth control or anti-malarial)