Having issues with Medical?

[Cavalier44]

The Civil Aviation Medical Examiners have a direct line to contact Civil Aviation Medicine in Ottawa which is not available to the public. Certain folks from TC will deny that this exists, but that is untrue.

Had an issue with my medical a couple of years back - I would call the receptionist at my CAME's office every week or two and have them fax/email TC in Ottawa on my behalf, since they weren't replying to my emails. Had my medical back in three months. Guess they were tired of me being a pain in their ass.

If you have a good relationship with your CAME and they're willing to be accommodating in assisting you, they're the best resource you can make use of.

[DHC2dooer]

Does anyone know of or heard of anyone holding a medical with a pacemaker installation!?

doer!

[Nomedical]

Does anyone know of or heard of anyone holding a medical with a pacemaker installation!?

doer!

Cardiac Pacemakers
The reliability and safety of implantable cardiac pacemakers is well established and continues to improve. In determining medical fitness, consideration must be given to the presence of any structural heart disease. Given the high degree of reliability of modern pacemaker systems, even pacemaker dependency need not restrict a pilot if the risk of failure is less than 2% /year. Each case will need to be considered individually and not before 3 months after successful implantation. Factors to be taken into consideration include potential environmental interference (low risk in cockpits today), device recalls and estimated battery longevity. Follow up for those with a pacemaker, which should take place every 6 months, requires a pacemaker clinic report including an indication of the underlying rhythm and escape rate.

This is right out of the CAME handbook reference: https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/public ... s-tp-13312


This all being said, TC Medicine doesn't like to follow their own handbook to CAME's - or I'd have medical 4.5 years ago...

Remind the RAMO she/he/it/thing/truck is a civil servant, bound by CARs, Act and published documents like the CAME handbook. TC needs medicine needs a reality check.

[mmm...bacon]

Have you thought about going to the media? Lots of stories in the news these days about crew shortages, and yet here is TC denying qualified pilots on what seems to be arbitrary grounds…

[Nomedical]

Have you thought about going to the media? Lots of stories in the news these days about crew shortages, and yet here is TC denying qualified pilots on what seems to be arbitrary grounds…

Which outlet? CBC? I don’t believe they would report it with the current government we have running the show.

On another note, the RAMO called me. I was stunned and shocked. She said somethings that made me scratch my head though. For instance one of the AMRB doctors assessed my risk of epilepsy at 1-2%. The national average is 1-2% in canada. So what gives?

For the record, epilepsy doesn’t run in my family, I’ve never had a seizure, I did hit my head 5 years ago. Ironically if I did have a seizure immediately following my head injury, and was on anti seizure medication and seizure free I could have had my medical 3 years ago according to the CAME Handbook.

I also emailed and heard back from Dr. Adams, as recommended by a couple of you, he basically told me to keep doing whatever TC says because I have no choice.

[truecolours]

You need to write a detailed and professional letter and send it to: the minister, the deputy ministers (deputy ministers are NOT politicians. They are life long civil servants who know more about the portfolio than the actual minister. There are 2 within TC), your MP, the opposition Transport critic, and add a few Transport/Government affairs reporters from a variety of news outlets to the Cc field. Some emails are hard to track down (deputy ministers), but you can get creative and search their name and then figure out their email based on format earlier in this thread.

Be sure to highlight how the government is contributing to disruptions within the industry by keeping an able bodied pilot away from work.

Shortly (very shortly) after doing the above, I received a call from a very agitated and flustered TC medical officer telling me my medical clearance was in the mail.

You need to light a fire under the asses of these paper pushers.

[Bede]

I think I'll chime in with a few things. I'd like to think that I know something about this stuff.
1) Applying to TATC. May work but may also delay/complicate things. I helped a guy out with an anxiety disorder on his initial Cat 1. TC issued a medical but it came with ridiculous restrictions so we applied to the TATC. Upon receiving the notice from the TATC, the RAMO immediately changed his mind and took some restrictions off making it acceptable. Our strategy worked out but knowing what I know now, could have seriously backfired. What can happen is the RAMO, stops all action on the file until the TATC hearing has concluded. The other important thing is that the TATC cannot order TC to issue you a medical - only reconsider your file.
2) Applying to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal will not get you anywhere. This isn't a human rights issue. Period. Don't try. Don't waste your time.
3) If you have any sort of medical issue, try to anticipate the tests/reports that TC will want in advance, and get that workup before you go in for your medical. For any depression/anxiety/psych, get a complete psych assessment from a psychiatrist and submit that together with your medical. For neuro, EEG, nerve conduction, whatever is relevant. For cardiac, Holter, echo, stress test. I once helped a kid who had a history of pneumothorax (collapsed lung) get a cat 1 medical. We got everything prepared including a letter from the surgeon treating him and he got his cat 1 medical no more questions asked. Remember, the general threshold for incapacitation is <2%/year. Make sure this point gets added to any letter from a physician.
4) CAME's don't have some special phone number to call. I had my CAME call me asking if I had some special number. No I don't.
5) TC Civil Aviation Medicine deals with the medical aspect. Licensing deals with sending you the sticker. If your medical is normal, but you don't get the paperwork, it's licensing that you want to be talking too.

[Castorero]

Nonmedical
I am sorry to hear about your story. It must be exceedingly frustrating to say the least.
Both Bede and Truecolors have given you some useful advice.
Before getting too excited, I am interested in knowing what happened to you physically, that started off this TC nightmare.
You can PM me if you like,

Castorero

[hithere]

Nonmedical,
Any update on your file? Have they at least given you a restricted Cat 1?

[Nomedical]

Nonmedical,
Any update on your file? Have they at least given you a restricted Cat 1?

AMRB met in August to review my file. I later received a letter from Atlantic region RAMO stating that I need to repeat 1 exam that I had done 4 times previously - all with normal results. This time they requested the raw data be sent to them for them to interpret, this leaves me nervous. I also had to complete a MoCA which took about 10 minutes. So now I'm just waiting again.

I did request my file through the access to information act and read internal emails from the AMRB. From what I understand the head of civil aviation medicine recommended me a Restricted CAT1 but the neurologist shot it down. He stated that I have a 1-2% chance of developing a seizure causing illness. Ironically the general population of Canada has the same odds so I don't really know.

[guss]

Hi Nomedical,
I am in a similar situation right now. I wish all the best for you and feel your frustration. How long did it take to get an answer once your file was transferred to the AMRB. Please let me know if you found any way to speed the process. good luck

[Nomedical]

Hi Nomedical,
I am in a similar situation right now. I wish all the best for you and feel your frustration. How long did it take to get an answer once your file was transferred to the AMRB. Please let me know if you found any way to speed the process. good luck

The AMRB meets quarterly. Once they review your file you should know within a couple days. Keep calling.

Update on my end, I sent everything they asked for on November 28, 2023 and they confirmed receipt on November 30, 2023. They haven’t even looked at it. Friday marks 100 business days. They said the one neurologist at TC might review it in April. Might.

[J31]

Good Luck. I hope this nightmare ends soon for you.

[48ragwing]

Sorry to hear. I'm currently in the same boat. Had thyroid cancer in 2016. Met with the surgeon on why they were only taking half my thyroid and not the entire thing...got some run around answers but trusted her. Needless to say on my followup ultrasound they found a small nodule in the other side as well. Was sent to a endocrinologist to do my blood work and monitor the nodule with ultrasounds. 2019 rolls around and I'm told it's grown and I need it removed. Turns out after requesting my files it was larger then the original size as of 2018. . I got my CAT 1 medical in 2022. In 2023 I didn't feel like waiting the 4+ months for them to remove it so I had it removed out of country. Complete with pathology .. everything on the up and up... 2023 I lose my medical and am currently 5 months since. I've completed the requirements as per TC and will be submitting it next week through the CAME. I assume if it went to the AMRB I'll have to wait for it to go back in front of them.. anyone know if that's the case or if the RAMO has the authority to sign off??

It's been the most frustrating thing I've ever dealt with. No one cares, no correspondence, no timelines. Just sit and wait till big brother decides your fate.

Happy and sad to hear others are in the same boat dealing with the same BS. If anyone has any info or experience I would love to hear about it. I heard a lot of these are due to a new Toronto RAMO. Not sure it's that's true or hearsay.

All the best and hopefully TC will pick up the expenses I'm incurring parking my place for a year

[DanWEC]

It's so frustrating hearing these anecdotes. Transport Canada Medicine seems to have further devolved into an increasingly dysfunctional, opaque organization. CAME's I've spoken to lately are less than complimentary of the recent changes. I've ben told it's now an ex-military doctor in the lead who's experience has been largely bureaucratic.
Like everything else Federal that falls under the umbrella of transportation, and aviation especially, it's almost as if it's an intentional downgrade of service, and it's justifiably being met with a measurable reduction in self-reporting.

As a note, there is a Transportation Board Appeal tribunal that covers aviation medicals, and you can present your case accompanied with evidence, a lawyer, and specialists' testimony on your behalf.

Good luck to all who are fighting with common sense.

[itsgrosswhatinet]

The have an overwhelming backlog so they are deferring people by sending them for extra unnecessary tests. It's not hard to see through it.

[48ragwing]

Update....... After fulfilling TCs requirements and submitting through my CAME I received my medical in the mail in less than 14 days. Here is hoping the tide is changing at TC.

[Dias]

Update....... After fulfilling TCs requirements and submitting through my CAME I received my medical in the mail in less than 14 days. Here is hoping the tide is changing at TC.

That's great, congratulations! Do you mean TC looked at your test results immediately after your CAME submitted them? I waited a year for them to request a test. Do you think I will have to wait months for them to review the test results or not?

[Victory]

Transport could save pilots and our healthcare system a lot of headaches and just issue requisitions directly for the tests they are requiring. I mean it's doctors requesting these tests already.

[Inverted2]

Transport could save pilots and our healthcare system a lot of headaches and just issue requisitions directly for the tests they are requiring. I mean it's doctors requesting these tests already.

Yes they should. It’s called do your damn job! Pure laziness.

[Red_Comet]

Out of curiosity, why do we have MDs at TC who "check homework" for CAMEs? It seems much more logical to just let CAMEs issue and renew medicals without having to run it through a second filter. CAMEs are trained to assess pilot medical eligibility and it makes no sense to have this double checking which adds absurd delays and bureaucracy.

"But what if CAMEs who are buddies with a pilot sneak him through medical?" Then they lose their medical license for malpractice, just like with any other violation of their ethical code. Docs are no strangers to filling out gov forms and assessing people for all sorts of things. They are professionals and shouldn't need someone to look over their work, adding complexity.

Can someone with connections to a political party please pass this on? Very fed up with this Soviet style bureaucracy.

[Nomedical]

Nonmedical,
Any update on your file? Have they at least given you a restricted Cat 1?

Update. No medical and they still haven’t reviewed the last round of medical exams they requested. Everything submitted November 28,2023.

I did receive a letter last month asking me to repeat a monumental amount of medical exams. I wrote back asking why as they have already been completed. I also asked for the RAMO to submit a letter to me from her directly outlining specifically why I need these exams completed again and justifying the unnecessary burden they would impose on an already struggling provincial health care system. After multiple emails, and demanding a phone call, I actually talked some sense into them and they deleted the request for these medical exams. I was then told my file would be reviewed late April. That’s over 5 months since I submitted my documentation. It will also be 5 years and 9 months since losing my initial medical.

I also clearly explained that their request for these medical exams outlines one thing - they are completely unorganized. The right hand doesn’t talk to the left? No, the right hand isn’t even attached to the body at transport canada.

I also clearly explained that if this continues my next course of action will be a civil lawsuit, loss of wages, seniority and pension. Millions is what 6 years adds up to.

[Daniel Cooper]

I wonder if a class action would get the desired attention to the issue.

I was told the delay for response right now is 6 months, and in my case it was almost exactly that until I got a letter (requiring another exam of course). So you are likely another few weeks away from your next communication.

[Nomedical]

I wonder if a class action would get the desired attention to the issue.

I was told the delay for response right now is 6 months, and in my case it was almost exactly that until I got a letter (requiring another exam of course). So you are likely another few weeks away from your next communication.

In March I was told that my file would be reviewed by the AMRB neurologist on April 26th - TODAY. HAZA only 6 months after sending them all the documentation requested. Only 5.5 years from the date of losing my medical. The last medical exams requested came back glowing and I was feeling so optimistic that on this day, world pilots day, I would be getting my medical back and resuming my 20 year career as a pilot. This afternoon I received an email notifying me that civil aviation medicine had sent me a document to read on MyTC account. Logged in and HAZA! A letter informing me that the neurologist has delayed my review and "maybe it will be reviewed in May". Also, FYI, Someone else in the office had a look at your file and is requesting the following exams completed before it can be reviewed... WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL IS GOING ON AT TRANSPORT CANADA?

I am now beginning the search for a great lawyer that would be interested in assisting me in a civil lawsuit against the regulator. Having civilian doctors clear me for flight and Transport Canada not while not reviewing my file and continuously requesting additional medical exams is, as I believe it, a violation of my charter of rights and freedoms. Not clearing me for my medical, with no scientific or medical documentation supporting their claim is crushing me. They're not doing their jobs. They're not doing their jobs while the destroying the careers of pilots across the country. In my case, I have lost millions of dollars in lost income by a 5 year delay. 5 years of lost seniority, pension contributions and salary. This adds up rapidly. The mental stress has been extreme, they took a horrible situation and just dumped gasoline all over it, tossed a match and met Trudeau for lunch.

[Nomedical]

Insult to injury, the medical exams requested they had actually received these in June 2023. Further outlining the fact they’re not even looking at the file or not looking hard or completely incompetent.