Medical Privacy Concern

[NudeDiver]

This is part of the problem. Most physicians do know not what an absolute contra-indication to diving is. They think that they're completing a GYM approval. I've seen it myself. I've had a doctor sign off on an epileptic patient before.

What if, what if, what if....you can play that game all day long. What if the person answer "no" because they didn't KNOW they had had some condition. What if the person had a condition 20 years ago and have seen no signs or symptoms since? What if the person is really a water breathing mutant from the planet Lepton and is just taking the class to see what the silly humans are up to these days? It goes on and on.

As an instructor, I would want to know that a student has asthma or is diabetic.

That's great. As a student, someone may or may not want you to know that they have asthma or are a diabetic. If they have discussed the issue with their doctor and their doctor has provided a medical clearance, and then that person then chooses to dive and gets a "slow response" from you because you lack this magic information, well, that's the price of privacy, now isn't it?

 

[matt_w]

This is part of the problem. Most physicians do know not what an absolute contra-indication to diving is. They think that they're completing a GYM approval. I've seen it myself. I've had a doctor sign off on an epileptic patient before.

If you substitute "Physicians with an understanding of SCUBA contra-indications", I still would not be OK. As an instructor, I would want to know that a student has asthma or is diabetic. Kinda makes it easier to administer an appropriate and faster response in the event of an emergency, don't you think?

I agree this happens, but the form does come with pretty complete instructions and contact information to help make the judgment. My doctor made a thorough evaluation and went well beyond the areas I had indicated yes too. Many Doctor's do not have that same understanding of the liability they are accepting by their signature.

From a liability standpoint you are much better off not knowing if the person has asthma or diabetes, in fact if their Doctor indicates the state of their condition is ok for Scuba, that should indicate there is no need to know. I have asthma and still carry a rescue inhaler I have not used in 5 years. I usually tell someone where it is, but I am not sure I am doing them any favors

 

[tridacna]

Many Doctor's do not have that same understanding of the liability they are accepting by their signature.

You're not joking. Most doctors have an admin person or PA complete the forms and then sign them pro forma! You gotta move those customers (er I mean patients) along.

Doctors get a barrage of forms to complete. Camp Health, School health etc etc. Get the vaccination history and check boxes. I have a very good friend. He's a pulmonary specialist. He does not have a clue regarding diving injuries nor fitness to dive. I joke with him that if injured, I'd rather have a DAN operator guide a passerby than have him on the spot!

 

[Riger]

In order to get a "Fit to Fly" medical clearance, I have to see an aviation medicine doctor. Surely the same minimum should be applied to Scuba, in that a scuba clearance should only be issued by a practitioner that has completed some awareness training related to dive medicine.

Sure this would complicate the process even more, but if you are required to consult a practitioner for a clearance certificate based on the Yes/No status, then why not do it properly?

Best Regards

Richard

 

[gene02]

I can't believe this is still going strong! This is about our privacy because of lawyer and courts. For you instructors that talk about saving lives my hat is off to you. But be real here when you are out doing an OW dive you are not going to remember that sue has XYZ and joe has ABC and the 3 other student has whatever condition especially in an emergency. If you are worth a darn your training will kick in and you will do what you do, and I am not trying to sell any instructor short or question there genuine care or concern for there student.

And for the bleeding harts this is a extreme sport like hang gliding, snow boarding or skiing they all come with life or death risk as does most everything else in life. So please spare me the every body has to pass a physical and meet these standards that starts to sound like communism. If a person studies the material they are given before class they know the risk period and should be cleared by there DR not because you say but for there own well being.

With everything we do in America it all comes back to lawyers running any body they can into civil court to grab every penny they can.

With this much passion on the subject it sounds like we as a community should look at working together to make a change in the system as to how we handle new divers and this __ __ form. If anyone has any thought on how or who to work with then I would be willing to explore that with you.

 

[matt_w]

In order to get a "Fit to Fly" medical clearance, I have to see an aviation medicine doctor. Surely the same minimum should be applied to Scuba, in that a scuba clearance should only be issued by a practitioner that has completed some awareness training related to dive medicine.

Sure this would complicate the process even more, but if you are required to consult a practitioner for a clearance certificate based on the Yes/No status, then why not do it properly?

Best Regards

Richard

Your privileged to fly is regulated by a government agency. Scuba diving is a self regulated industry, primarily regulated by civil liability. (In the US)

 

[NudeDiver]

In order to get a "Fit to Fly" medical clearance, I have to see an aviation medicine doctor. Surely the same minimum should be applied to Scuba, in that a scuba clearance should only be issued by a practitioner that has completed some awareness training related to dive medicine.

The difference is that aviation is regulated by law. The SCUBA industry is largely not regulated. What we're talking about here, some kind of health validation of some kind, is not required by law at all (in the U.S. at least).

Who issues the "aviation medicine" qualification to doctors? How is it obtained?

How would these doctors acquire a "scuba medicine" qualification? Surely the quantity and distribution of such doctors would be insufficient to handle the workload - esp. when you're looking at an international marketplace.

 

[Radcat]

Just curious- if a shop goes out of business, what happens to the medical records? Is there a procedure for dealing with them?

 

[matt_w]

Just curious- if a shop goes out of business, what happens to the medical records? Is there a procedure for dealing with them?

If the business was sold, I would assume they would transfer to the new owner. Otherwise they would probably be kept as long as the former owners liability insurance (and lawyers) recommended and then most likely be destroyed.

 

[NudeDiver]

Good idea to request to see the shop's written and posted privacy policy, eh? Do they even have one? Inquiring minds want to know.

But Rad's question leads to another issue. Let's suppose, just for the sake of argument, that all the mumbo jumbo of, "we must have your medical details so we can better save you in an emergency" isn't complete nonsense. Let's say it is true. Now - class is over, diver is certified, there are no problems, everyone is happy. So, why should the shop retain this medical info in its files at all? The justification of "we must have your medical details so we can better save you in an emergency" is now moot. Diver may never go into that shop again. The only reason to retain this info is - yes - you guessed it - lawyers, liability and lawsuits. Big surprise there - given that is the REAL reason it is collected in the first place.