To tell or not to tell?

[SDAnderson]

All of this assumes that you have been checked out and cleared by a doctor who is aware of your diving and knows something about it...

Lie on the release but keep a complete and detailed record of the truth in the very front of your logbook. Every med, every problem, medical release form, doctor contact info, etc. Make sure that your buddy knows a full medical disclosure is included in your log in case of an accident.

It's irritating to have to do but the inevitable result of litigation driven nanny-ism.

 

[miguel sanz]

I agree very much with the lasts statements that have been done. It´s true that it would be better if you could tell this operators about your meds and conditions (only, so they know in case of emergency), but if your doctor certifies you to dive in your condition, that info is PRIVATE. And if you risk a whole diving trip, no doubt, I would not tell them (the doctor the operator will ask, doesn´t know you nor the exact medical condition and will decide only on the companies benefit.
Who out there calls the State troupers and tell them about your medical conditions and meds before taking the highway? and a lot more people need an ambulance when they take the highway than when they dive.

 

[Drew Sailbum]

I am no doctor, but I have a reasonable idea whether certain meds are likely to be approved by a dive medicine doctor. But occasionally I am surprised and the doc declines a potential diver.

So if you really do discuss your meds with your doctor and he/she clears you to dive, ahy not get it in writing?

I have helped load divers into ambulances only to find out then about medicines. Some would say it only matters to the individual diver but that is not always the case. Let me set the scene.


A diver surfaces and boards the boat. She complains of feeling weak and then a few moments later collapses. The dive crew signals an emergency recall to the rest of the divers in the water and radioes the situation to base.

As the boat gets underway, the diver is screaming with pain. The crew preps oxygen and tries to comfort her but the diver isn't able to provide information. Her friend doesn't know of any medical conditions.

The dive shop phones the diver's husband who was listed as the emergency contact on her diver registration form and waiver. He is worried sick and goes to the dock to meet the boat.

The paramedics meet the boat at the dock and try to take a medical history. The diver still can't provide much information but her husband says she is taking "some medicines". The medics send him to their room to get the medicines as they work to load her in the ambulance.


Now, does anyone care to guess if:

1. The diver's family doctor had told her it was ok to dive on her meds.
2. The dive medicine specialist said her meds were contraindicated for diving.
3. Three of the other guests on the boat cancelled diving because they were "too shaken" by the experience.
4. One other diver demanded a refund because his dive was cut short.
5. The dive shop got blamed for the costly ambulance ride. "Who's going to pay the $500?" the diver's husband wants to know.
6. All of the above

 

[fan(t)a(s)tic]

I'm just wondering what the insurance company is going to do, if they find out that you didn't fill out the papers truthfully...

I could imagine that they'd be very happy to use that as a reason to cut thier losses.

 

[SDAnderson]

So if you really do discuss your meds with your doctor and he/she clears you to dive, ahy not get it in writing?

Good question and I do. The question then becomes, what is the dive charter going to do with this information if I provide it? I've tried the full disclosure route and repeatedly found that it worked to my detriment. All too often the DM on the back of the boat seems to think that his medical knowledge outweighed my doctors and I ended up with some kind of restriction to my diving. At the very least, it was a monster hassle. I have a physical every year and keep a complete and detailed disclosure of my medical status (including details of all conditions and treatments) along with a signed release from my physician in the very front of my log. I also keep a DAN tag on my person. I'm selective in my disclosure now - I give out the information on a "need to know" basis. Recreational dive? The charter operator doesn't need to know. Technical dive? Hmm, maybe, depends on the dive. My buddy? Without hesitation.

I understand the concern of the charter operator - his insurance company is sitting on his head trying to find a way to limit his (and their) liability and requires the form be used and the procedures followed. The argument that this information is being requested for use in case of an emergency is pretty weak, however, otherwise we'd all have our medical histories stapled to our foreheads as we walk around in our day to day lives, just in case.

I'm just wondering what the insurance company is going to do, if they find out that you didn't fill out the papers truthfully...

The dive operator's insurance company is going to fight like a junk yard dog to avoid paying any claims, which they should. I'm okay with that - if I get hurt because my head explodes underwater due to an undisclosed medical condition, why should I be able to collect from the dive operation? On the other hand, since I have the approval of my doctor to dive, my insurance company is still going to be on the hook unless the policy includes an exclusion for diving. Some of them do, not mine, but I have DAN insurance, also.

The problem with loco parentis is that it all too often is just plain loco.

 

[WreckWriter]

Drew,

Number 6 for sure.

WW

 

[DandyDon]

I can see the Operator's views: Wants to be sure that the diver is reasonably safe to dive and won't be fined or sued for not screening appropriately.

But I can see the prudent diver's views, too: As Reefraff shared, one can check-out with a dive physician, and still get turned down by the operator. I think I like Reefraff's suggestion - be sure you're healthy enough, then don't tell the operator anything he doesn't really need to know.

But I'm still going to strongly suggest the I.D. tags! It would have really helped last month when our two different divers were found unconscious if the diabetic had been wearing his I.D., and the other guy wearing an Emergency Phone number.

We got 2 tags each, with chains and colored silencers, free shipping and no sales taxes for only $5 a set! http://customdogtags.com/order.htm?

We were allowed 5 lines, 15 spaces each, and we listed:
1-Name
2-Home town & state
3-Any Medical Conditions
4-Emergency Contact Phone Number
5-D.A.N. Member Number

Gonna' wear one on every trip, hang the other from our respective BCs.

 

[H2Andy]

I'm just wondering what the insurance company is going to do, if they find out that you didn't fill out the papers truthfully...

I could imagine that they'd be very happy to use that as a reason to cut thier losses.

yes this is one of my concerns. see my post above.

it would depend on the language on the policy as well as the facts of
the situation, but I would bet that the insurance company would at
least try that and would force you to initiate legal action to collect.

that's my bet.

 

[miguel sanz]

I agree very much with Reeraff. The tags on your BC is a great idea.
About the insurance company, I don´t think it´s stated that you have to inform everyone on your medical conditions, if your doctor knows and lets you dive, your insurance should cover you independently of what non-medical people you told, or even lied. It´s different for the operator insurance, but everybody should have their owns.

 

[Snowbear]

To those who take meds with significant potential side effects (i.e. drowsiness/dizziness) or to treat or control significant conditions(i.e. seizures, cardiac conditions, diabetes) - do you let your buddy know? I can understand not letting the dive op know - it's your choice to dive and really none of their business.