That pesky Medical Statement

[Marie13]

Something no one has been able to answer to my satisfaction:

The question about family history of heart attack/stroke (or whatever the specific wording is): how far back do you have to go? I've checked the yes box, but added a note that the relative affected was a grandparent, not parent. Is checking yes when it was only a grandparent, not a parent/sibling, necessary?

 

[Colliam7]

Something no one has been able to answer to my satisfaction:

The question about family history of heart attack/stroke (or whatever the specific wording is): how far back do you have to go? I've checked the yes box, but added a note that the relative affected was a grandparent, not parent. Is checking yes when it was only a grandparent, not a parent/sibling, necessary?

Good question. Certainly a judgement call. If it was me, I would answer 'No' for a history two generations back. Other views may differ.

 

[t-mac]

I'm pretty sure these points have been made in bits and pieces in the thread, but here's my view. While I appreciate the OP position that a shop is more likely to help you if they know of your medical condition when you get in trouble, that certainly is not the reason for the medical form. As others have noted, it is there to protect the shops from liability and I think most shops look at it that way.

For those who wish to exist in that utopian place where it actually serves another function, then you need to carry a current physical exam form signed by your doc indicating you can still dive even though your great, great aunt by marriage had high blood pressure. Then you can answer yes, show your get out of jail free card and still dive. The shop is still off the hook and now they do know about your medical issue and perhaps they will be able to better assist you if something happens.

For me, my health is between me and my doc and if we are comfortable that I am able to dive, then I'm not spreading my medical history around dive shops all over the world. I suspect in most cases a rescue will be identical with or without detailed medical knowledge. I doubt most dive professionals have the training to adapt based on such information.

FWIW, in the event medical types need any information, I always wear 24/7 (road id) the contact information of 2 different people who can be called to get it.

 

[boulderjohn]

As certified divers, we are responsible for ourselves - especially when it comes to matters of knowing whether we are fit to dive.

The RSTC form is usually only required for training, but some people are starting to require it for guided diving, too. Natalie Gibb is an example, as preiously noted.

Do you really want some dive operator making a medical decision about your fitness to dive, based on a superficial questionaire?

Who, exactly, assesses the situation and decides that the meds are working and that it is "under control?" Is it someone that most people would consider to be qualified to make such a decision?

In the theory behind the RSTC form, the signing doctor makes the decision. For example, if you take prescription medications, you do not have to disclose what they are--that is for your physician to know, and the physician makes the call. That is not, however, how it is done everywhere.

I do not know if they still do it this way, but when I was with UTD, there was no doctor sign off. As a student, you filled out a new online form for every class you took took, even if you took them only weeks apart. It was extremely detailed, and it took a long time. When you were done, the UTD personnel looked it over and decided if you were fit to dive. To my knowledge, no doctors were ever involved in that decision. Once, shortly after completing a class, I signed up for another one, and it was classroom only, with no diving. I was shocked to find out I had to go through the entire medical form again for a classroom only experience. When I came to the part where I had to list my prescription medications and the dosages, I said to myself, "Screw it! They just got that information a month ago," and I left it blank. On the next diving trip (not a class), I roomed with the UTD instructor, and he went into my toilet kit to see what medications I was taking because I had left it blank.

 

[boulderjohn]

If you die on a hockey rink, they just take you off the ice and keep playing.

I don't know. Back when I tried playing hockey, they definitely would not have done that. It would take too much time. They would have shoved you in the corner and kept on playing.

 

[kelemvor]

Once, shortly after completing a class, I signed up for another one, and it was classroom only, with no diving. I was shocked to find out I had to go through the entire medical form again for a classroom only experience. When I came to the part where I had to list my prescription medications and the dosages, I said to myself, "Screw it! They just got that information a month ago," and I left it blank. On the next diving trip (not a class), I roomed with the UTD instructor, and he went into my toilet kit to see what medications I was taking because I had left it blank.

Holy cow! I'm curious how you dealt with that and if you offered him a tissue to help stop the bleeding?

 

[uncfnp]

Something no one has been able to answer to my satisfaction:

The question about family history of heart attack/stroke (or whatever the specific wording is): how far back do you have to go? I've checked the yes box, but added a note that the relative affected was a grandparent, not parent. Is checking yes when it was only a grandparent, not a parent/sibling, necessary?

Medically its considered significant in a first-degree relative: parent, child or sibling. The age at first event is also important for risk but I don't think that is considered in the RSTC.

 

[boulderjohn]

Holy cow! I'm curious how you dealt with that and if you offered him a tissue to help stop the bleeding?

I was indeed upset, but the meds I had been taking had been already disclosed over and over, every time I took a blessed course from them. I had nothing to hide--I was just sick and tired of filling out that damned form every few weeks.

In retrospect, I believe I had been put off the first time I had had to fill out the form, because I felt those issues were between me and my doctor. On the other hand, there was nothing embarrassing in that information, and if I wanted to do the training, I had to do it. Thus, I had agreed to give that information long ago, even though I did not then and do not now agree with that system. I suppose the fact that I had given the information every time before and had chosen not to do it this time must have raised suspicions that I was trying to hide something.

 

[gopbroek]

A simple statement that you have no known medical condition that precludes you from diving is reasonable but that is not what is normally seen. Let’s be truthful and honest here most forms are very intrusive and are designed as liability waivers and not health assessments and if answered honestly many divers would be refused. Most of these forms are an attempt to protect the dive op / resort in court, in the event of an accident, not for your safety. Often at larger operations and resorts the person handling the forms will red line a diver for any ‘yes’ answer. Many shops will state that they will discuss any ‘yes’ answers and make a reasonable determination but in reality how is the diver to truly know in advance. Typically if anything is answered yes and you are not simply told you will not be able to dive they will often require a doctor’s note. As for being on vacation and then having to go find a doctor to get a note, good luck (and your insurance coverage probably stopped at the international border). As for getting a note in advance many doctors have no knowledge of diving and while they may say that they see nothing that would precludes you from any normal sports activity they also may fear litigation and be hesitant to sign a blanket statement that you are physically able to dive.

The reality is regardless of public statements to the contrary most people see these forms for what they are and answer No to everything. For a reality check the next time someone is on a surface interval at the Palancar pier, look back and forth, and try to guess how much honesty there was involved in those ‘health’ questionnaire answers.

And that’s my rant on the subject

 

[seeker242]

A quarter of all adults have hypertension, for example, and I've seen no evidence to suggest that is a risk factor for diving.

Hypertension has been associated with an increased risk of immersion pulmonary edema (IPE)