Disclosure of health conditions to dive ops/fitness (thread split

[Wookie]

My doctor told me last time that by federal regulations she is now required to prescribe statins to everyone whose LDL hits some magic number, all other considerations notwithstanding. So for my next lipid panel I'll double my red yeast rice and honestly answer "no" on the medical form. 'Cause it's not lipitor, it's a "non-prescription dietary supplement".

I wouldn't stand for a doctor who lies to my face.

 

[dmaziuk]

I believe that number is anything over 130.
My GP was threatening me with statins when my tests came back in October showing 128.
Diet change and LDL now sits below 100. Yeast rice works wonders.

You know RYR is statin, right?

 

[Scott]

Very much aware that yeast rice contains chemicals that are similar to prescription statins.

I don't have to answer yes on a form because of statins. My OP was to state that I have yet to visit a resort on the last year that asked the questions you'll find on an WRSTC medical.

 

[dmaziuk]

Very much aware that yeast rice contains chemicals that are similar to prescription statins.

I too can honestly answer "no" to high cholesterol question: mine's been stable at just under 130 for the last decade or so, and "no" to prescription medication because RYR is not prescription.

 

[NYCNaiad]

So from experience - "no" cuts through all the red tape...

I went to the trouble of getting a full stress test in anticipation of doing the Rescue Diver course. The medical cert for the PADI rescue course requires that you can achieve 13 METS. My cardiologist stress tests me annually and I exceed this by some measure without any signs of cardiac distress. So I could provide a medical cert- but having done all the personal due diligence- it seems like just unnecessary hassle to produce the paperwork or take a chance on a very risk averse operator saying "thanks but no thanks". So I have not answered one of those questionnaires honestly in 6 years.

If you simply fill out the form & send in your medical cert ahead of time via email, you won't have problems. The only time I was even questioned about this, it was a quick question & answer via email before I even got to the shop.

I think it's far better to do this very quick work ahead of time, then answer "no" & possibly create some serious repercussions. Two examples which immediately come to my mind:

• Problematic and/or contraindicated medical treatment during an emergency because the medical staff don't have the correct info about you.
• Red tape & problems for the shop, medical personnel & your family after the fact. I've heard stories of the hell that some families have gone through because their loved one lied on the form. In one case, the insurance company thought there was fraud occurring & the family had to fight that. And in the other cases, the families had to pay HUGE amounts of money not covered by insurance for the medical procedures as well as search & rescue because of the lie on the form. These bills financially devastated the families.

Bad enough to get hurt or die, but if you could have been saved simply by taking just a little time to tell the truth? Leaving your family not only without you, but then ruining them financially? Personally, I think all of that makes it worth the small effort it takes to protect yourself & your family.

 

[Wookie]

Bad enough to get hurt or die, but if you could have been saved simply by taking just a little time to tell the truth? Leaving your family not only without you, but then ruining them financially? Personally, I think all of that makes it worth the small effort it takes to protect yourself & your family.

No one gets out alive, and if you dive and don't have their future well planned (if you are the sole or main breadwinner) then you are negligent. Speaking as a dive operator, no one needs know my medical history. The last freedom available to us is to die our own special way. That did not, BTW, stop me from asking about someone's medical history. I expected them to lie, and I was hardly ever disappointed.

 

[NYCNaiad]

No one gets out alive, and if you dive and don't have their future well planned (if you are the sole or main breadwinner) then you are negligent. Speaking as a dive operator, no one needs know my medical history. The last freedom available to us is to die our own special way. That did not, BTW, stop me from asking about someone's medical history. I expected them to lie, and I was hardly ever disappointed.

Even if you plan your future well, a $125,000+ financial hit with no insurance coverage to cover any of the costs can still be devastating.

I don't think you or I will be able to convince the other to change their mind, but I just don't get why keeping medical info private is worth the risk to someone's life or their family's finances. Unless the diver shouldn't be diving & that's why they are lying. And then, I have a bigger problem with it because when they are hurt, have an accident or die, it also emotionally effects the people involved in the rescue & the dive, & can also possibly hurt/kill others who are trying to save the diver. I hope I can dive for a long time, but if I am ever unfit to dive, I've already made the determination I won't dive. I love & live for diving. And at one point, I thought my health would preclude me from ever diving again. But I personally think it would be selfish of me to continue to dive if I was unfit no matter how much I love it knowing how it could emotionally & physically affect others.

 

[gfaith]

@Wookie I would lie to you in a country minute.

 

[drrich2]

...I just don't get why keeping medical info private is worth the risk to someone's life or their family's finances. Unless the diver shouldn't be diving & that's why they are lying. And then, I have a bigger problem with it because when they are hurt, have an accident or die, it also emotionally effects the people involved in the rescue & the dive, & can also possibly hurt/kill others who are trying to save the diver.

I see your point. A couple of points to address it.

If the diver thought he/she was at substantial risk to die or be so injured as to rack up huge financial liabilities, he/she wouldn't dive. If we assume even minute risk is too much, then why dive at all?

The next point is 'unless the diver shouldn't be diving.' Shouldn't according to who? If you want to be the one making that decision for yourself, full disclosure can be a problem because you put the choice in other people's hands, sometimes at considerable cost and inconvenience to yourself. People can post about the dive op.'s interest in the matter, how qualified they think some physicians are to judge risk (some, not all!), but at the end of the day, after you consult caregivers, research & educate yourself about your condition, prognosis, etc...

Who...makes...the...call?

When I'm the diver, I say 'me.'

Richard.

 

[NYCNaiad]

If the diver thought he/she was at substantial risk to die or be so injured as to rack up huge financial liabilities, he/she wouldn't dive. If we assume even minute risk is too much, then why dive at all?

I agree, but the problem comes in because people don't realize how pricey some of these things can get. Even if someone is generally healthy aside from one specific health issue, the costs rack up quickly (e.g., search & rescue, chamber, hospital, etc.). And when a diver has lied on the form, I've seen divers' families having to pay for everything out of pocket even when the lie had nothing to do with the cause of the accident or death.

Who...makes...the...call? When I'm the diver, I say 'me.'

I agree that the diver has to make their own call & certainly doctors can be wrong or not even know enough to make the right decision. However, I cannot see circumstances often occurring where there is "considerable cost & inconvenience" unless there is a problem that needs to be investigated & even then, they can have their doctor speak to someone who knows dive medicine. I have myself done this when I went to a doctor who thought I shouldn't dive. I called DAN & connected my doctor with a dive medicine doctor. After review, they both agreed I could dive.

I personally believe that diving if/when I'm unfit to dive and/or lying on the form puts too many others at risk for me to feel comfortable doing it no matter how much it would crush me to stop diving.