That pesky Medical Statement

[pepperbelly]

Why would anyone other than myself be responsible for me choosing to dive?
I choose my equipment. I decide to swim underwater, how deep and how long.
If I choose to do something stupid why would anyone else be liable?

 

[Scubagolf]

I say "no". But....
I always carry a current MD signed medical on dive trips because of my age, 66. Haven't needed it yet.

 

[TMHeimer]

I'm 62. For God's sake, stop this post. Mark "yes" or "no" one way or the other and get on with it. If you mark a "YES", you have to get a Dr.'s permission from someone who may or may not know dive medicine. ****--it's so simple.
Those medical forms are so "for the dive shops" anyway-- WE LEARNED THAT IN DIVEMASTER SCHOOL.

 

[NAM001]

Where are folks running into the requirement for this medical long form for other than training dives?

I am thinking the only place I have seen it was in MEX and it was just some dive ops. I have not seen it in either Cayman ort Bonaire.

They (dive ops) are not asking detailed information per se'. They ask if perhaps you have any debilitazting condition that may prohibit you from taking the planned dive such as asthma broncitus, or had a major operation in the last 6 months. have you ere been bent. ect. you answer yes and the dive could be over for you right there. General questions that usually result in "has the doctor restricted you from diving?". You say no and you are normally good to go. Too many spill their guts with too many details on their medical history, and the ops have no choice but to act with caution and deny you. . As long as they ask is there is there anything that may restrict you diving, and my doc says I can dive, I say no. I do however tell my doctor that I dive so he is aware and will engage in conversation that covers caution related to diving. I asked my doctor once if I should get an annual physical. He said no because I see him each quarter for perscription necessary blood work. I tell him of upcoming trips and he says go or no go. If its nogo I don't go If its go I tell the boat I am in perfect health with a physical in the last 3 months.

 

[KenGordon]

What a bunch of whiners!!

Either you are fit and know it and can answer no to all those questions or not. If you cannot then talk to a person qualified to say you are fit to dive! How hard is that? The list is pretty well known, you can ask an op up front. But really you know if anything applies. You are not going to turn up and find that they need to know what STDs you have had.

If your fitness is in question see a diving doctor and get a bit of paper saying you are fit. That trumps the questionnaire and everyone is happy.

You do not have some right to be in the water with people while possibly unfit without them knowing.

Dying on people is not polite.

 

[Blue Quaker]

We don't head south very often. We picked Sandals because they can cater to my wife's food allergies, not because of their dive program. Everywhere we have taken a trip to, we have been asked to fill out a medical questionnaire and waiver. This is the first place we have been asked to show up with medical forms signed by a doctor. I think it is a bit of a joke because, it is the full student medical with space for the name of your instructor and the course you will be taking. We are not taking any courses while we are there. Collectively the 2 of us have 78 years of dive time, 32 IT ratings and 62 instructor ratings that we have acquired over the years with various agencies, and have had to pass more diving medicals than you can shake a stick at. I am 61 years old and still hit the gym 3 days a week for weight training. I hike and snowshoe and ride a bike. I look after my health as best as I can so I can continue to enjoy life to the full. I put up the post for information to readers of this thread, not because I had a problem with being asked for a medical, or felt the need to be "nannied" while I dive.
Cheers,
Norman H.

 

[Bob DBF]

Dying on people is not polite

Yet everyone does it, some see it coming and some don't. The Dr. clearance says that you are fit to dive, not that you will not die.



Bob

 

[redacted]

You do not have some right to be in the water with people while possibly unfit without them knowing.

Dying on people is not polite.

Actually, once a contract has been made, evidenced by the payment of fees, I think a customer has exactly that right. If the dive op wants to know more about me, they need to ask before they take my money.

Yet everyone does it, some see it coming and some don't. The Dr. clearance says that you are fit to dive, not that you will not die.



Bob

But, if you are polite, you will regret it all the way to your grave.

 

[Boiler_81]

Ii don't think anyone is saying to dive if you know you are unfit. I'm saying what is between my Dr and myself is my business. I am responsible for myself. If my Doc and I agree that I'm good to dive, that's all I need. I don't need a nanny asking about my personal medical history. To many times folks take the easy route and comply with invasions of their privacy because it is the path of least resistance.

What a bunch of whiners!!

Either you are fit and know it and can answer no to all those questions or not. If you cannot then talk to a person qualified to say you are fit to dive! How hard is that? The list is pretty well known, you can ask an op up front. But really you know if anything applies. You are not going to turn up and find that they need to know what STDs you have had.

If your fitness is in question see a diving doctor and get a bit of paper saying you are fit. That trumps the questionnaire and everyone is happy.

You do not have some right to be in the water with people while possibly unfit without them knowing.

Dying on people is not polite.

 

[KenGordon]

Ii don't think anyone is saying to dive if you know you are unfit. I'm saying what is between my Dr and myself is my business. I am responsible for myself. If my Doc and I agree that I'm good to dive, that's all I need. I don't need a nanny asking about my personal medical history. To many times folks take the easy route and comply with invasions of their privacy because it is the path of least resistance.

So why not give them the bit of paper that says you are fit? Then no need to say which box you would have ticked. No privacy invaded.