ugh...getting a training medical form

[formernuke]

So once your fully recovered from the surgery ask the surgeon for a note, bring note and form to pcp. I have to do that every time for mine.

 

[gamon]

Disgusting comment.

Wake up dude, it's common practice.

Docs don't want the liability, often they know little to nothing about scuba diving and how their patients condition may or may not be complicated by the activity.

So the only way for some folks to get wet without a whole bunch of red tape which still might be futile is to simply check the right boxes and assume the liability themselves.

As per other comments on this thread, there are many in agreement with doing exactly that.

 

[drrich2]

Maybe. But your family will still sue everyone involved. And the instructor will have to deal with the aftermath of having a student get seriously injured or die.

They might. Question...is it clear that there's a drastic lawsuit risk reduction when the medical form has been filled out accurately and signed off on, compared to one where the diver knowingly checked 'Nos' to avoid having to get it?

Often in these discussions on SB the issue isn't hiding a seriously destabilizing condition like poorly controlled diabetes or epilepsy. In the current scenario, for example:

i just had surgery a few weeks ago (Gerd+ hiatal hernia repair) so i had the form in hand when I went in for my 1 week follow-up appointment with the surgeon. Actually with his PA. She said (as did the surgeon when i asked) that she has no problem with me diving after my recovery but she refused to sign the form! Said I need to go to my primary car doc since he knows me better. I'm just frustrated because the only reason I need the doc to sign is because of the GERD which is now theoretically fixed and the recent surgery which my regular doc knows nothing about!

A care giver familiar with the surgery had no issues with him diving. He plans to get the letter done, by another caregiver who wasn't involved with the surgery, and will likely at least partially go with what the diver says. It's not clear the odds of serious injury or death and impact on staff will be seriously impacted by this.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Wake up dude, it's common practice.

Docs don't want the liability, often they know little to nothing about scuba diving and how their patients condition may or may not be complicated by the activity.

So the only way for some folks to get wet without a whole bunch of red tape which still might be futile is to simply check the right boxes and assume the liability themselves.

As per other comments on this thread, there are many in agreement with doing exactly that.

I stopped teaching for various reasons last year. People like you are one of those.
Not everybody who wants to dive should.
It's agency bs that encourages liars and cheats to do this kind of crap.
And that's what it is, lying and cheating and putting other people at risk.
I know of one 12yr old boy that wouldn't be a corpse if he and his parents hadn't been liars. And a PA who should have went up the chain of command to a physician instead of signing off on something she knew nothing about. The guidelines are included with the form.
And people shouldn't let their selfishness override common sense.

 

[gamon]

I stopped teaching for various reasons last year. People like you are one of those.

Happy Retirement Jimbo!

 

[drrich2]

It's one thing if it's from a previously unknown condition. But to hide something out of pure friggin selfishness? Just because the person wants their way and doesn't give a damn about the people who will be affected?

This issue comes up in these discussions, and I'm reminded there are often more than 2 (polar opposite) positions on an issue (e.g.: the rule followers vs. the sociopaths). Many who check 'Nos' do so for personal convenience when whatever issues there be are minor with no credible expectation of seriously compromising diving. Not to go diving with dangerously unstable medical conditions.

I doubt any of us would recommend total disregard for how others will be affected.

It's agency bs that encourages liars and cheats to do this kind of crap.

Please explain what you mean by 'agency bs.' I ask because I'm not sure whether you think the agencies are excessive in their demands for medical clearance, or something else entirely. If it encourages form falsification, I want understand.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Wake up dude, it's common practice.

Is lying on the medical form a common practice? I really have no idea. Someone should create a survey.

 

[tursiops]

Is lying on the medical form a common practice? I really have no idea. Someone should create a survey.

Why wouldn't they also lie on the survey?

 

[Lorenzoid]

Why wouldn't they also lie on the survey?

Funny--I started typing exactly that, and then thought "they would probably just not respond to the survey rather than take the time to respond with a lie," deleted it, and hit Post.

 

[gamon]

Why wouldn't they also lie on the survey?

Because if it was anonymous they'd have nothing to lose and maybe they'd take the opportunity to let others know they lied, and why they lied, as a sort of vent of their frustration regarding the system and how doctors fearful of malpractice suits and/or unfamiliar with diving physiology makes things difficult for some of those medically challenged individuals to enjoy the sport.