Deep Hull
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- Messages
- 37
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Recently, I signed up for PADI lessons at a local LDS and was very excited with prospect of learning to dive. When I collected the books for the course from the dive shop, I was instructed to fill out the blue folder that had a series of questions about my medical history.
As I quickly skimmed the list of medical questions, my attention was immediately drawn the one pertaining to spinal/neck surgery. In mid December I had cervical fusion on my sixth and seventh vertebra due to a disk rupture. I asked, and was informed, that if I answered any of these questions in the affirmative that I would be required to provide a note from the doctor which cleared me for scuba lessons.
My initial though was to just scribble no to all questions and proceed with the lessons, but unfortunately I am a person who firmly believes in following policies and I answered all questions correctly and procured the required doctor's note.
When I arrived for my first day of training, I was informed by the instructor that the note provided by my doctor was insufficient, and that PADI had a specific form that needed to be completed by my doctor before I could be cleared to take the dive sessions.
I took this form to my doctor, who completed the physician portion, however, the doctor did not like the section of the form where there was a checkbox and a blanket statement which said something to the effect of "I find this person medically able to complete scuba training" (sorry, I don't remember the exact verbiage). My doctor had line through "medically" and substituted "orthopedic" because he is an orthopedic specialist.
Upon seeing this, my instructor immediately called PADI and was informed that the form could not be altered in any fashion and that I would be unable to continue with the course. As you can imagine, I was quite let down and extremely upset at this, as my condition IS orthopedic in nature and my doctor had cleared me, not once, but twice.
Well, I had a long discussion with the dive shop owner who is adamant that my doctor is in the wrong because the form assumes that the doctor is only affirming that I am medically able for those things which I have written yes.
I told him he was incorrect and that I side with the doctor in his choice to modify the form as he could possibly be liable if I had a heart attack or whatever due to the diving, since he DID clear me. It is my understanding that the law does not interpret meaning, they interpret words, and nowhere within the doctor's instructions did it say that I was only being cleared for those things that I said yes to.
Now I find myself with an appointment for my General Practitioner, with hopes that I can gain a signed, unmodified version of the form so I can continue with my class. If I fail to gain this form, I have been told that I will not be able to continue.
The question, is there any way (should the second doctor refuse to sing this form) that I can obtain this form signed by a doctor who understands diving and its possible risks to me. And because I did not receive notice of this required form BEFORE I attended the first class, am I in the right to call my bank and contest the payment of $250.00 to the LDS for the cost of instruction if I cannot continue?
Sam
As I quickly skimmed the list of medical questions, my attention was immediately drawn the one pertaining to spinal/neck surgery. In mid December I had cervical fusion on my sixth and seventh vertebra due to a disk rupture. I asked, and was informed, that if I answered any of these questions in the affirmative that I would be required to provide a note from the doctor which cleared me for scuba lessons.
My initial though was to just scribble no to all questions and proceed with the lessons, but unfortunately I am a person who firmly believes in following policies and I answered all questions correctly and procured the required doctor's note.
When I arrived for my first day of training, I was informed by the instructor that the note provided by my doctor was insufficient, and that PADI had a specific form that needed to be completed by my doctor before I could be cleared to take the dive sessions.
I took this form to my doctor, who completed the physician portion, however, the doctor did not like the section of the form where there was a checkbox and a blanket statement which said something to the effect of "I find this person medically able to complete scuba training" (sorry, I don't remember the exact verbiage). My doctor had line through "medically" and substituted "orthopedic" because he is an orthopedic specialist.
Upon seeing this, my instructor immediately called PADI and was informed that the form could not be altered in any fashion and that I would be unable to continue with the course. As you can imagine, I was quite let down and extremely upset at this, as my condition IS orthopedic in nature and my doctor had cleared me, not once, but twice.
Well, I had a long discussion with the dive shop owner who is adamant that my doctor is in the wrong because the form assumes that the doctor is only affirming that I am medically able for those things which I have written yes.
I told him he was incorrect and that I side with the doctor in his choice to modify the form as he could possibly be liable if I had a heart attack or whatever due to the diving, since he DID clear me. It is my understanding that the law does not interpret meaning, they interpret words, and nowhere within the doctor's instructions did it say that I was only being cleared for those things that I said yes to.
Now I find myself with an appointment for my General Practitioner, with hopes that I can gain a signed, unmodified version of the form so I can continue with my class. If I fail to gain this form, I have been told that I will not be able to continue.
The question, is there any way (should the second doctor refuse to sing this form) that I can obtain this form signed by a doctor who understands diving and its possible risks to me. And because I did not receive notice of this required form BEFORE I attended the first class, am I in the right to call my bank and contest the payment of $250.00 to the LDS for the cost of instruction if I cannot continue?
Sam