shakeybrainsurgeon
Contributor
Phil:
First, a bit of semantics...nearly every adult is under "the care" of a doctor...if you have a PCP, you are under the care of a doctor. I interpret this question more narrowly...are you under treatment by a doctor? Simply getting an opinion and a possible diagnosis, with no treatment, doesn't qualify IMHO. So if you receive no meds, therapy, etc, I think the answer to that question would be no.
If this sounds legalistic or disingenous, consider this; do we consider every complaint we make to a PCP should be disclosed on a medical release form? What about constipation? If we take metamucil on the advice of a doctor, do we need medical clearance to dive? If it's not worthy of active treatment, is it worth disclosing?
Also, a person can be seriously impaired, yet not under the care of a physician... example, a person with mild cerebral palsy from birth...they may be 20 years old and, despite minor motor impairments, have not seen a doctor in years because their condition is stable and not disabling and they are otherwise young and fit. They may or may not be able to dive safely, even though they are not under a doctor's care. And does treating myself count? Technically, if I take an aspirin for a headache, I am being treated by a physician. So if you take no meds, you can say no, IMHO.
That said, however, tremors are not an affliction one can hide. If I were to go on a liveaboard, with or without treatment, I would call them before booking and discuss the issue with them frankly and ask them what medical clearance they would accept prior to making that financial/time outlay. As I said, tremors are not a stealth diagnosis.
So, in my case, I dive locally and in FL with people who know me. If I go to a new dive operator in the Caribbean, I dive with a hired DM and, usually the day before a dive, meet with the owners and let them know and see my situation in person. I don't blindside them. I believe that, in the case of motor impairments, discussing the situation and letting them see for themselves is the best approach. Simply showing up at the boat, and expecting to be buddied up with a stranger, with any visible impairment is not fair to the operator, even with a medical clearance. A tremor as minor as yours may not count, but I want to be fair to the operators and other divers. Plus, I can afford to hire partners, so I have no need to bug other paying customers with my problems, minor as they may be.
On the forms, I simply state that my medical condition is the same as it was when I was certified (true). So far, no one yet has cared or objected because the left hand tremors are not disabling. The average dive op is worried about people with bad hearts croaking on them, or epileptics seizing, or schizophrenics decompensating, not minor motor quirks that don't affect dive skills. My trips combine business and diving, so if a dive op were to say no, it would not be a disaster for me... on a trip made specifically for diving, however, especially a liveaboard that will be out at sea and far from immediate medical care, the issue would have to be disclosed to them in advance of booking. I'm thinking of booking wih Nekton next year and that's exactly what I plan to do.
So, to answer your question, I would be honest, and I wouldn't wait until I hit the pier to do so...
