No.
I have a real concern about the ability of a diver to get reliable information from the average good doctor, who is simply out of his league when it comes to diving physiology. Yes, the doc could educate him/herself pretty easily using the template outline that USED to accompany the PADI physical exam form.
But in the fee-for-service U.S. at least, there's zero free time and no financial incentive for the doc to learn what's required, when the chance to use that new information will come so seldom.
And in countries with universal health care, while there's no financial disincentive, their docs are even busier than here. Good luck getting an appointment, and then a
second appointment after your doc has taught himself what he needs to know to refer you to a dive medicine specialist (for your third appointment).
Diving is a self-regulated sport, and we need to do everything we can to keep the scuba police away. It's sad when we lose a buddy, but unless that person sought advice about their known medical condition, then it's all on them. And if they did seek advice and followed it, then the incident will quickly head to the courts and involve that doc.
How great is it that we have ScubaBoard, and can pose a "theoretical question" to
@Duke Dive Medicine , and get a state-of-the-art generic answer at no charge?! I apologize for using the word "generic". I only mean that DDM, or any ScubaBoard doc, will not give personalized advice over the Internet.
How great is it that you can spend a very reasonable amount to belong to DAN, who will put an experienced dive medicine specialist on the phone with your Emergency Department physician when you're bent?
Much like standardized pre-op lab tests before surgery, when you do the math it's just not cost effective to force a bazillion divers to spend money and time on a rubber stamp approval, when the number of "lives saved" is very tiny. Why do I say "very tiny"? Why do I sound heartless? Because in my personal experience as both a physician and dive instructor, many (if not most) folks with what
they think of as mild chronic disease will lie on their form rather than skip a trip or delay training.
If you have a problem and choose not to risk a "No" from a doctor, then what happens is on you.
If you don't know you have a problem, it's hard to find a doctor that can quantify that risk
for diving. But you should try, as the rare but continuing incidents remind us.
"One life lost is one too many", is a nice sentiment, but wholly beyond the power of a governmental dictate to cure.
Diving Doc
