semiannual physicals by dive/hyperbaric docs only?

[archman]

Is this reasonable for most divers... or doctors? Just wondering.

http://www.cdnn.info/safety/s040406/s040406.html

 

[quimby]

Is this reasonable for most divers... or doctors? Just wondering.

The same ME would probably rubber stamp the fatalities as died of the bends. But getting past that I think you meant to say bi annual physicals, but unless someone is absolutely forced into one it aint goin happen. If a person is not going to take care and try to stay reasonably aware of his physical status, (reasonable conditioning etc.) a comment like this is no better than a surgeon general warning on cig packs.



“A venturesome minority will always be eager to get off on their own, and no obstacles should be placed in their path; let them take risks, for Godsake, let them get lost, sunburnt, stranded, drowned, eaten by bears, buried alive under avalanches – that is the right and privilege of any free American.”
From Judge Dolan's ruling in favor of Gary Gentile's suit against NOAA to allow civilian divers take pictures of the Monitor; originally from Edward Abbey's book Desert Solitare (1968)
Stolen from David Swift signature

 

[archman]

... I need annual diving physicals for my job, and forget that most other divers don't.

My ACTUAL question was about the "requirement" for having hyperbaric trained doc's do the diver physicals. I found it rather unrealistic and a slap in the face to my general practictioner, who's been doing fine for me since 1998.

 

[advtech]

... I need annual diving physicals for my job, and forget that most other divers don't.

My ACTUAL question was about the "requirement" for having hyperbaric trained doc's do the diver physicals. I found it rather unrealistic and a slap in the face to my general practictioner, who's been doing fine for me since 1998.

In Canada, Commercial medicals may be done only by rated doctors who have attended special training courses simular to Transport Canada Aviation or Marine Medicals. Courses are only a couple of days long but cover the things that most doctors have had no training in.

Having been an instructor for over 30 years, I have run into numerous problems with familiy doctors and sometimes specialists clearing students to dive when a hyperbaric specialist wouldn't. I don't know how many times I've seen "fit to dive to no more than 30' or "fit to dive while on #$@& medication". When your talking lung problems, it's the top 4 feet that are the most dangerous and many drugs are less effective under pressure or the higher PP of O2.

Keep in mind that most doctors receive absolutly no training in diving related medicine. That's why it's allways a good idea to have DAN's phone number handy as they often have to talk emergancy room doctors through the recognition and treatment of diving accidents.

On a simpler note, go to a family doctor on a Monday morning with a sore ear, he looks in it and sees red, assumes infection and gives you antibiotics. A diving doctor, sees red, asks if you were diving, did you have a problem equalizing and then gives you decongestants. You may think that this is over simplified, but I've seen it happen many times esspecially with students or new divers.

 

[DocVikingo]

I would endorse advtech's take on the issue. A requirement that professionals conducting dive physicals have some level of education & training in diving medicine does not seem either unreasonable or insulting.

In my view, such standards are not a slap in the face to family/general practitioners. These doctors may be fully competent within their scope of practice, but that does not necessarily make them competent in hyperbaric medicine.

Like advtech, I've seen numerous instances where it was entirely obvious that a GP or specialist in some branch other than diving medicine had no useful understanding of Boyle's law or the potential implications of certain drugs for activities such as scuba.

As a final note, I rather doubt that physicians not trained in diving medicine would, on balance, take offense at this type of requirement.

Best regards.

DocVikingo

 

[archman]

Dang! I can't get my question articulated. Take three.

Are there anywhere near enough hyperbaric-trained docs out there to satisfy the requirements laid out in the article? My concern is that nobody in my local clinic would qualify, and I was wondering the same thing for many divers who live in landlocked or non-diving locales.
When my family medicine doctor has questions about diving medicine, he refers me to a pulmonary specialist a couple hundred miles away. If I and every other local diver had to drive 3 hours each way see this dude every year or two for a dive physical, we'd revolt. I'm sure the doctor would feel unnecessarily bothered too.

 

[scubasean]

Is this reasonable for most divers... or doctors? Just wondering.

http://www.cdnn.info/safety/s040406/s040406.html

Most folks so far are answering the question about what the qualifications of folks doing physicals should be...

My opinion is that you should not require annual or biannual physicals for rec divers...But recommending it, as was done here, is fine...But, what does "medical conditions relevant to the cause of death" mean? The people probably drowned...

The article studied five people who died due to detectable medical issues...But how many dived?

So far as I know most folks who get hurt or perish while diving do so because they do something stupid or they are unprepared (lack of training, out of practice, etc)...not because they are out of shape or medically unfit.

How many divers die each year in the US? 100? How many of those are because someone should have had a physical? Does that mean everyone should get a physical? I think everyone should consider it, and I consider the recommendation sound, but I would not make it mandatory (not that they said it should be mandatory...I'm just adding a bit about my opinion...).

 

[DocVikingo]

There are not at present sufficient diving medicine trained physicians nationwide to meet the demand this would create. The situation likely would improve over time according to the laws of supply & demand.

Best regards.

DocVikingo

 

[diverbrian]

I am fortunate. My internal medicine specialist was a military doctor. He used to do dive physicals all of the time. Also my tech diving instructor is an ER doc. At least he understands medicine and diving. I would like to have a hyperbaric specialist in the area but I will live with what I have.

 

[DocVikingo]

I'd say you are very fortunate & well covered.

Best regards.

DocVikingo