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Medical Nightmare

Question:

Yeah, that alone sounds like a potential legal problem for the Doctor. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – By all means, tell us the name of the doctor who obtained and forwarded your personal medical information without your knowledge or consent! Well, it turns out he is on staff at that hospital, and decided to do his own investigation instead of talking to my cardiologist.  He told the FAA that I was recently hospitalized for "chest pain" and they, of course, revoked my medical.

Response:

medical back really fast, please let me know

Remove ‘the’ from my address and e-mail me. D.

Response:

Ronnie, the short answer is that you have no cause for action against the AME… In the future simply use someone else for your medicals…  If he is bad news the word will get around and he won’t last long as an AME… In your case, he may be a butt head, but he has the force of established case law and the might of the federal government behind him…  If I were you I would tread lightly as you have already libeled/slandered him in a public forum… You might want to get real quiet on this topic… If you want to drop me a private email I will give you the medicolegal reasons as to why you are legally wrong and he is right… Cheers  …  Denny – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I’m certainly not going to do anything like that until after this is resolved.  Firstly, the FAA might get wind of it, and treat the case *much* differently.  Secondly, the extent of what I feel might be damages will be more obvious after I know how long it took to get re-instated. Doubtful you’ll get the FAA to react responsibly or move quickly. Meanwhile, sue the irresponsible doctor and make a formal written complaint to the states medical board.  Idiots like that need better training. AI Nut It all started a few weeks ago, when I went to an urgent care clinic for what turned out to be bronchitis and pneumonia.  The doctor there ended up sending me to the hospital, but I’m not sure if it was due to miscommunication because I was admitted over the phone or what, but the hospital had me down as having "chest pain", which I’ve never had in my life. 2 weeks later, I went for my AME exam, and the guy I chose was new.  As a matter of fact I was his 1st ever exam!  It was a 2 hour exam, which shocked me, but that was fine, as everything was normal.  The only problem was that being with this guy for 2 hours, I got too chatty.  I happened to mention that since my father has a history of heart disease, I go to a cardiologist regularly, and everything there is okay too.  He got all upset that I didn’t put the name of any cardiologist on my application.  I said that it is all preventative, so I didn’t think it to be necessary, and I reiterated that the cardiologist says that I’m okay.  I even offered to give him the number of the cardiologist to confirm this.  He said he would be reporting this to the FAA. I told him that the FAA would probably revoke my medical and ask questions later, and that he should just check with my doctor. Well, it turns out he is on staff at that hospital, and decided to do his own investigation instead of talking to my cardiologist.  He told the FAA that I was recently hospitalized for "chest pain" and they, of course, revoked my medical. Now I’ve been scrambling around to get documentation…I went through a thalium stress test, got a letter from the urgent care doctor, a letter from my cardiologist, an EKG, blood results, and I even have an "Imatron" scan that shows I have absolutely 0 plaque in my coronary arteries. Who knows how long I’ll be grounded…just because this over-zealous AME refused to work with me.  Obviously when he found these hospital records, he thought it to be some "smoking gun."  He still should have called me, or the admitting doctor. I live in the Miami area.  I’ll be happy to share the doctor’s name to anyone who lives here. If anyone knows any tricks to get a medical back really fast, please let me know.  I spoke with AOPA and they said to send the stuff and call them in 3 weeks and they’ll see if they can track it.  Even three weeks is a financial burden…especially when there’s nothing wrong with you.

Response:

Ronnie, the short answer is that you have no cause for action against the AME… In the future simply use someone else for your medicals…  If he is bad news the word will get around and he won’t last long as an AME… In your case, he may be a butt head, but he has the force of established case law and the might of the federal government behind him…  If I were you I would tread lightly as you have already libeled/slandered him in a public forum… You might want to get real quiet on this topic… If you want to drop me a private email I will give you the medicolegal reasons as to why you are legally wrong and he is right… Cheers  …  Denny

Whether or  not he is in the right, I can’t libel/slander him if I tell the truth… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m certainly not going to do anything like that until after this is resolved.  Firstly, the FAA might get wind of it, and treat the case *much* differently.  Secondly, the extent of what I feel might be damages will be more obvious after I know how long it took to get re-instated. Doubtful you’ll get the FAA to react responsibly or move quickly. Meanwhile, sue the irresponsible doctor and make a formal written complaint to the states medical board.  Idiots like that need better training. AI Nut It all started a few weeks ago, when I went to an urgent care clinic for what turned out to be bronchitis and pneumonia.  The doctor there ended up sending me to the hospital, but I’m not sure if it was due to miscommunication because I was admitted over the phone or what, but the hospital had me down as having "chest pain", which I’ve never had in my life. 2 weeks later, I went for my AME exam, and the guy I chose was new.  As a matter of fact I was his 1st ever exam!  It was a 2 hour exam, which shocked me, but that was fine, as everything was normal.  The only problem was that being with this guy for 2 hours, I got too chatty.  I happened to mention that since my father has a history of heart disease, I go to a cardiologist regularly, and everything there is okay too.  He got all upset that I didn’t put the name of any cardiologist on my application.  I said that it is all preventative, so I didn’t think it to be necessary, and I reiterated that the cardiologist says that I’m okay.  I even offered to give him the number of the cardiologist to confirm this.  He said he would be reporting this to the FAA. I told him that the FAA would probably revoke my medical and ask questions later, and that he should just check with my doctor. Well, it turns out he is on staff at that hospital, and decided to do his own investigation instead of talking to my cardiologist.  He told the FAA that I was recently hospitalized for "chest pain" and they, of course, revoked my medical. Now I’ve been scrambling around to get documentation…I went through a thalium stress test, got a letter from the urgent care doctor, a letter from my cardiologist, an EKG, blood results, and I even have an "Imatron" scan that shows I have absolutely 0 plaque in my coronary arteries. Who knows how long I’ll be grounded…just because this over-zealous AME refused to work with me.  Obviously when he found these hospital records, he thought it to be some "smoking gun."  He still should have called me, or the admitting doctor. I live in the Miami area.  I’ll be happy to share the doctor’s name to anyone who lives here. If anyone knows any tricks to get a medical back really fast, please let me know.  I spoke with AOPA and they said to send the stuff and call them in 3 weeks and they’ll see if they can track it.  Even three weeks is a financial burden…especially when there’s nothing wrong with you.

Response:

I probably help pilots with significantly more Special Issuance certificates than the average AME because I have a special interest in working (both as an AME and as a flight instructor) with pilots who have physical disabilities (since my medical practice/specialty is limited to individuals with physical disabilities).

Your a good man.  I’ve had good AME’s and I’ve had bad ones.  The one I used last is a real putz.  I had to find a new one because my old one retired.  I should have known something was up because this guy was the first person I’ve ever seen for any medical purpose who demanded payment in advance of even seeing me. After some anomoly in my test (ketones in the urine as a result of the Atkins diet, which he shouldn’t have even been testing for), I had to run around and get a UA at additional expense (I could have just eaten a couple of donuts, I dipped the urine a few hours later and I’d stopped passing ketones).  Any how, he wouldn’t even return my calls later.  I can understand he’s got a busy schedule, but dang, he can spend the 5 minutes to return a patients call at his convenience.  When an AME calls up Oklahoma City in this fashion (as I have done many times), the AME is basically staking his reputation (and the future goodwill of the aeromedical division) on the belief that the stated medical facts are correct.  If an AME requests telephone permission like this to issue a certificate and there later turns out to have been a substantial omission of information, Oklahoma City may be much less likely in the future to work with the AME in that fashion.

What I have never understood on these "gray area" deferrals, is why a pilot, whose flown for two-three years with some condition that the pilot does not judge as disqualifying, tht probably isn’t disqualifying on the submission of test results, that the AME can’t find any condition that indicates that an immediate revocation is required, that the a certificate (at least on renewals) can’t be issued pending Joklahoma city getting through their eight week backlog.  They have 90 days to overrule the AME anyhow.

Response:

Yes, it can be slanderous AND libelous if it is true but said in a slanderous fashion with an intent to damage the reputation or standing of the individual. For instance, OJ Simpson would have had grounds for numerous slander claims against all kinds of people – we all know he would never have won, but the people who said he did (it) and Simpson was found not guilty

He was found liable for the murders, therefore I cannot slander him by saying he did it.

Response:

It all started a few weeks ago, when I went to an urgent care clinic for what turned out to be bronchitis and pneumonia.  The doctor there ended up sending me to the hospital, but I’m not sure if it was due to miscommunication because I was admitted over the phone or what, but the hospital had me down as having "chest pain", which I’ve never had in my life.

Obviously it is hard for you to post all the relevant information over the net, but perhaps your AME did the right thing. I probably help pilots with significantly more Special Issuance certificates than the average AME because I have a special interest in working (both as an AME and as a flight instructor) with pilots who have physical disabilities (since my medical practice/specialty is limited to individuals with physical disabilities).  In fact, I have for many years offered both free flight physicals and free introductory flight lessons to any pilot with a physical disability; I have worked with pilots from several states away and with diagnoses from diabetes to cardiac disease, from paraplegia to upper extremity amputations to lower extremity amputations. Many of these pilots have successfully received Special Issuance certificates — in short, you would be hard pressed to find an AME who is more of a pilot advocate whenver permissible by the FAA. Nonetheless, based upon the limited data you provided, I might well have deferred your medical to the FAA, just as your AME did.  Why?  In one word — trust When presented with a medical situation such as yours, an AME has two options.  First, he can defer the decision to the FAA in Oklahoma City.  Second, he can work with the pilot to gather additional medical information and then call up the FAA aeromedical division to present this information and request permission by phone to issue a medical certificate.   When an AME calls up Oklahoma City in this fashion (as I have done many times), the AME is basically staking his reputation (and the future goodwill of the aeromedical division) on the belief that the stated medical facts are correct.  If an AME requests telephone permission like this to issue a certificate and there later turns out to have been a substantial omission of information, Oklahoma City may be much less likely in the future to work with the AME in that fashion. In your case, it sounds as if there are several key pieces of information which were omitted from your initial application.   First of all, there is a specific question regarding ALL hospitalizations in your entire life — it sounds as if you did not record your hospitalization which was only 2 weeks before your flight physical.  Second, the form specifically asks that you list ALL physician visits in the past 3 years, yet you omitted your cardiology visits. Perhaps there were innocent explanations for these factors, as you mentioned in your initial post.  Nonetheless, if a patient such as yourself were to list the prior hospitalization and cardiologist visits and talk about them openly, I would gladly work through the issues with the pilot and try to get the certificate issued by me if possible.  But on the other hand, if I realized that at least two very relevant and very recent items of medical history were omitted by the pilot, then I would not feel comfortable staking my reputation on the completeness of your history, nor would I feel comfortable issuing a certificate myself knowing the public trust placed in me as an AME.  This would become a task more appropriate to be determined by the FAA aeromedical division. Next time, if you start out offering to work in good faith and total openness with your AME, you may well get the same professionalism back from him/her.   But if you are again reluctant to state all the facts without prompting, then you probably will once again get an AME who is reluctant to personally issue you a certificate. —- Richard Kaplan, M.D., AME, CFII www.umrpc.com/p210

Response:

Yes, it can be slanderous AND libelous if it is true but said in a slanderous fashion with an intent to damage the reputation or standing of the individual. For instance, OJ Simpson would have had grounds for numerous slander claims against all kinds of people – we all know he would never have won, but the people who said he did (it) and Simpson was found not guilty – compare the situation here – the gentleman reporting the incident was accurate and what he said supported the doctor’s obligation to the FAA. If any FAA staff read that post they would have congratulated the doctor for doing (in their eyes) a good job. There was no libel nor slander. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It’s only slander if it isn’t true. AI Nut Wouldn’t he have had to actually post the name of the doctor for it to be libel/slander? him…  If I were you I would tread lightly as you have already libeled/slandered him in a public forum… You might want to get real I live in the Miami area.  I’ll be happy to share the doctor’s name to anyone who lives here.

Response:

Wouldn’t he have had to actually post the name of the doctor for it to be libel/slander? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – him…  If I were you I would tread lightly as you have already libeled/slandered him in a public forum… You might want to get real I live in the Miami area.  I’ll be happy to share the doctor’s name to anyone who lives here.

Response:

already libeled/slandered him in a public forum…

Given that truth is a defense, could you point out the libel that was posted? Ron (EPM) (N5843Q, Mooney M20E) (CP, ASEL, ASES, IA)

Response:

It’s only slander if it isn’t true. AI Nut – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Wouldn’t he have had to actually post the name of the doctor for it to be libel/slander? him…  If I were you I would tread lightly as you have already libeled/slandered him in a public forum… You might want to get real I live in the Miami area.  I’ll be happy to share the doctor’s name to anyone who lives here.

Response:

What he said was neither libelous nor slanderous. He stated the doctor’s position, and the doctor conducted himself in a way he saw fit, and can defend that. However the reporting of the incident in an open forum, as he did, provided neither libel now slander since he didn’t disparage the doctor, but reported the event as it happened. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Wouldn’t he have had to actually post the name of the doctor for it to be libel/slander? him…  If I were you I would tread lightly as you have already libeled/slandered him in a public forum… You might want to get real I live in the Miami area.  I’ll be happy to share the doctor’s name to anyone who lives here.

Response:

| | If anyone knows any tricks to get a medical back really fast, please | let me know.  I spoke with AOPA and they said to send the stuff and | call them in 3 weeks and they’ll see if they can track it.  Even three | weeks is a financial burden…especially when there’s nothing wrong | with you. Three weeks is nothing. This could easily take six months to a year to resolve.

Response:

By all means, tell us the name of the doctor who obtained and forwarded your personal medical information without your knowledge or consent!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, it turns out he is on staff at that hospital, and decided to do his own investigation instead of talking to my cardiologist.  He told the FAA that I was recently hospitalized for "chest pain" and they, of course, revoked my medical.

Response:

Well ..if it was me the first thing I’d do is call AOPA and enlist their help. Then I’d have my lawyer write a letter to the hospital that they had fabricated records and lied on them since I’d never had "chest pains". I would demand that they correct the records and forward them to the FAA and the AME. Next I’d find a different AME since this one seems focused on rejecting people instead of working with them and being their health advocate. Is he a pilot? This AME’s motivation puzzles me .. I’ve never seen one act like that. He’s ignoring everything you’re telling him. OPW

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It all started a few weeks ago, when I went to an urgent care clinic for what turned out to be bronchitis and pneumonia.  The doctor there ended up sending me to the hospital, but I’m not sure if it was due to miscommunication because I was admitted over the phone or what, but the hospital had me down as having "chest pain", which I’ve never had in my life. 2 weeks later, I went for my AME exam, and the guy I chose was new.  As a matter of fact I was his 1st ever exam!  It was a 2 hour exam, which shocked me, but that was fine, as everything was normal.  The only problem was that being with this guy for 2 hours, I got too chatty.  I happened to mention that since my father has a history of heart disease, I go to a cardiologist regularly, and everything there is okay too.  He got all upset that I didn’t put the name of any cardiologist on my application.  I said that it is all preventative, so I didn’t think it to be necessary, and I reiterated that the cardiologist says that I’m okay.  I even offered to give him the number of the cardiologist to confirm this.  He said he would be reporting this to the FAA. I told him that the FAA would probably revoke my medical and ask questions later, and that he should just check with my doctor. Well, it turns out he is on staff at that hospital, and decided to do his own investigation instead of talking to my cardiologist.  He told the FAA that I was recently hospitalized for "chest pain" and they, of course, revoked my medical. Now I’ve been scrambling around to get documentation…I went through a thalium stress test, got a letter from the urgent care doctor, a letter from my cardiologist, an EKG, blood results, and I even have an "Imatron" scan that shows I have absolutely 0 plaque in my coronary arteries. Who knows how long I’ll be grounded…just because this over-zealous AME refused to work with me.  Obviously when he found these hospital records, he thought it to be some "smoking gun."  He still should have called me, or the admitting doctor. I live in the Miami area.  I’ll be happy to share the doctor’s name to anyone who lives here. If anyone knows any tricks to get a medical back really fast, please let me know.  I spoke with AOPA and they said to send the stuff and call them in 3 weeks and they’ll see if they can track it.  Even three weeks is a financial burden…especially when there’s nothing wrong with you.

Response:

I’m not defending the physician, he can do that for himself… But, there is a bit of lack of knowledge here… 1.   A physician has a doctor/patient relationship with someone who consults him for diagnosis and treatment…  That patient controls the dissemination of his personal information…  The physician is beholden to the patient first, and to insurers, the state, etc. a distant second…. (assuming that there is no violation of the law found or suspected, i.e. child abuse, threats against another person, etc.) My attitude is that I am that patients advocate and he and I will decide what information third parties get… 2.   Now, a patient who goes to a physician for CERTIFICATION of his physical condition to a third party, as a matter of settled case law,  does NOT have a doctor/patient relationship with that physician….   In fact the physician is legally beholden to the agency for whom he is certifying, and not at all to the patient (other than informing him if something threatening is found so the patient may seek treatment in a timely fashion)… And usually the physician is forbidden, or at least discouraged, from treating the patient for anything that is found….  Tell them – Yes… Treat them – No… When I do a DOT physical and I see IV drug tracks up the persons arm, or that they are color blind, etc., I am obligated to report those findings and I may not legally withold that information no matter what the person says or orders me to do…  While the AME in your case may have been aggressive, he was acting within the scope of case law governing his work as an AME… For those dealing with AME’s that they don’t know well and think they may have a problem with, get good advice from another physician who is a pilot before going to your AME… Second, your AME has a legal obligation to report so he/she is not your buddy…  Keep your lip zipped… Denny – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – By all means, tell us the name of the doctor who obtained and forwarded your personal medical information without your knowledge or consent! Part of the application for a medical certificate is a consent form. Yes, but I know of no doctor who would be stupid enough, even with a consent form, to do so without informing the patient.

Response:

Doubtful you’ll get the FAA to react responsibly or move quickly. Meanwhile, sue the irresponsible doctor and make a formal written complaint to the states medical board.  Idiots like that need better training. AI Nut – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It all started a few weeks ago, when I went to an urgent care clinic for what turned out to be bronchitis and pneumonia.  The doctor there ended up sending me to the hospital, but I’m not sure if it was due to miscommunication because I was admitted over the phone or what, but the hospital had me down as having "chest pain", which I’ve never had in my life. 2 weeks later, I went for my AME exam, and the guy I chose was new.  As a matter of fact I was his 1st ever exam!  It was a 2 hour exam, which shocked me, but that was fine, as everything was normal.  The only problem was that being with this guy for 2 hours, I got too chatty.  I happened to mention that since my father has a history of heart disease, I go to a cardiologist regularly, and everything there is okay too.  He got all upset that I didn’t put the name of any cardiologist on my application.  I said that it is all preventative, so I didn’t think it to be necessary, and I reiterated that the cardiologist says that I’m okay.  I even offered to give him the number of the cardiologist to confirm this.  He said he would be reporting this to the FAA. I told him that the FAA would probably revoke my medical and ask questions later, and that he should just check with my doctor. Well, it turns out he is on staff at that hospital, and decided to do his own investigation instead of talking to my cardiologist.  He told the FAA that I was recently hospitalized for "chest pain" and they, of course, revoked my medical. Now I’ve been scrambling around to get documentation…I went through a thalium stress test, got a letter from the urgent care doctor, a letter from my cardiologist, an EKG, blood results, and I even have an "Imatron" scan that shows I have absolutely 0 plaque in my coronary arteries. Who knows how long I’ll be grounded…just because this over-zealous AME refused to work with me.  Obviously when he found these hospital records, he thought it to be some "smoking gun."  He still should have called me, or the admitting doctor. I live in the Miami area.  I’ll be happy to share the doctor’s name to anyone who lives here. If anyone knows any tricks to get a medical back really fast, please let me know.  I spoke with AOPA and they said to send the stuff and call them in 3 weeks and they’ll see if they can track it.  Even three weeks is a financial burden…especially when there’s nothing wrong with you.

Response:

I’m certainly not going to do anything like that until after this is resolved.  Firstly, the FAA might get wind of it, and treat the case *much* differently.  Secondly, the extent of what I feel might be damages will be more obvious after I know how long it took to get re-instated. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Doubtful you’ll get the FAA to react responsibly or move quickly. Meanwhile, sue the irresponsible doctor and make a formal written complaint to the states medical board.  Idiots like that need better training. AI Nut It all started a few weeks ago, when I went to an urgent care clinic for what turned out to be bronchitis and pneumonia.  The doctor there ended up sending me to the hospital, but I’m not sure if it was due to miscommunication because I was admitted over the phone or what, but the hospital had me down as having "chest pain", which I’ve never had in my life. 2 weeks later, I went for my AME exam, and the guy I chose was new.  As a matter of fact I was his 1st ever exam!  It was a 2 hour exam, which shocked me, but that was fine, as everything was normal.  The only problem was that being with this guy for 2 hours, I got too chatty.  I happened to mention that since my father has a history of heart disease, I go to a cardiologist regularly, and everything there is okay too.  He got all upset that I didn’t put the name of any cardiologist on my application.  I said that it is all preventative, so I didn’t think it to be necessary, and I reiterated that the cardiologist says that I’m okay.  I even offered to give him the number of the cardiologist to confirm this.  He said he would be reporting this to the FAA. I told him that the FAA would probably revoke my medical and ask questions later, and that he should just check with my doctor. Well, it turns out he is on staff at that hospital, and decided to do his own investigation instead of talking to my cardiologist.  He told the FAA that I was recently hospitalized for "chest pain" and they, of course, revoked my medical. Now I’ve been scrambling around to get documentation…I went through a thalium stress test, got a letter from the urgent care doctor, a letter from my cardiologist, an EKG, blood results, and I even have an "Imatron" scan that shows I have absolutely 0 plaque in my coronary arteries. Who knows how long I’ll be grounded…just because this over-zealous AME refused to work with me.  Obviously when he found these hospital records, he thought it to be some "smoking gun."  He still should have called me, or the admitting doctor. I live in the Miami area.  I’ll be happy to share the doctor’s name to anyone who lives here. If anyone knows any tricks to get a medical back really fast, please let me know.  I spoke with AOPA and they said to send the stuff and call them in 3 weeks and they’ll see if they can track it.  Even three weeks is a financial burden…especially when there’s nothing wrong with you.

Response:

If anyone knows any tricks to get a medical back really fast, please let me know.  I spoke with AOPA and they said to send the stuff and call them in 3 weeks and they’ll see if they can track it.  Even three weeks is a financial burden…especially when there’s nothing wrong with you.

AOPA tell you 3 weeks because on initial paperwork, it goes to the in-pile at Joklahoma city and gets lost for 6 weeks.  You can "trace" it yourself. Call OKC at :( 405) 954-4821 with your file number (should be on the letter you got) and they can tell you where it’s sitting according to their records. You then might call the regional flight surgeon’s office and talk to the person there who deals with pilot issues.  I was able to have the one in the office I dealt with decipher the initials at the bottom of my paperwork and actually was able to contact the doctor handling my file (I was concerned because my own doctor was leaving the country for several weeks and I wanted to find out if I needed anything further from her before she departend). http://www.cami.jccbi.gov/AAM-300/rfs.html

Response:

By all means, tell us the name of the doctor who obtained and forwarded your personal medical information without your knowledge or consent!

Part of the application for a medical certificate is a consent form. George Patterson,  N3162Q.

Response:

By all means, tell us the name of the doctor who obtained and forwarded your personal medical information without your knowledge or consent! Part of the application for a medical certificate is a consent form.

Yes, but I know of no doctor who would be stupid enough, even with a consent form, to do so without informing the patient.

Response:

I’m making some assumptions about how the FAA got these records.  I can’t imagine any other way, and I did find out that he is on staff at this hospital.  I’ll give out the name with that caveat, since I guess that the FAA could have gotten ahold of this information on their own? Anyway, he is Dr. David Pick in Weston, Florida. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – By all means, tell us the name of the doctor who obtained and forwarded your personal medical information without your knowledge or consent! Well, it turns out he is on staff at that hospital, and decided to do his own investigation instead of talking to my cardiologist.  He told the FAA that I was recently hospitalized for "chest pain" and they, of course, revoked my medical.

Response:

I’m making some assumptions about how the FAA got these records.  I can’t imagine any other way, and I did find out that he is on staff at this hospital.  I’ll give out the name with that caveat, since I guess that the FAA could have gotten ahold of this information on their own?

Doubtful.  I’m pretty sure the FAA doesn’t contact the doctors directly. They always seem to write the pilot and have him do the leg work.

Response:

A good idea for all pilots is to only use an AME who is a pilot him/herself. Some pilots with medical issue have received help from Virtual Flight Surgeons http://www.aviationmedicine.com/   John Ousterhout   Independence, OR – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -It all started a few weeks ago, when I went to an urgent care clinic for what turned out to be bronchitis and pneumonia.  The doctor there ended up sending me to the hospital, but I’m not sure if it was due to miscommunication because I was admitted over the phone or what, but the hospital had me down as having "chest pain", which I’ve never had in my life. 2 weeks later, I went for my AME exam, and the guy I chose was new.  As a matter of fact I was his 1st ever exam!  It was a 2 hour exam, which shocked me, but that was fine, as everything was normal.  The only problem was that being with this guy for 2 hours, I got too chatty.  I happened to mention that since my father has a history of heart disease, I go to a cardiologist regularly, and everything there is okay too.  He got all upset that I didn’t put the name of any cardiologist on my application.  I said that it is all preventative, so I didn’t think it to be necessary, and I reiterated that the cardiologist says that I’m okay.  I even offered to give him the number of the cardiologist to confirm this.  He said he would be reporting this to the FAA. I told him that the FAA would probably revoke my medical and ask questions later, and that he should just check with my doctor. Well, it turns out he is on staff at that hospital, and decided to do his own investigation instead of talking to my cardiologist.  He told the FAA that I was recently hospitalized for "chest pain" and they, of course, revoked my medical. Now I’ve been scrambling around to get documentation…I went through a thalium stress test, got a letter from the urgent care doctor, a letter from my cardiologist, an EKG, blood results, and I even have an "Imatron" scan that shows I have absolutely 0 plaque in my coronary arteries. Who knows how long I’ll be grounded…just because this over-zealous AME refused to work with me.  Obviously when he found these hospital records, he thought it to be some "smoking gun."  He still should have called me, or the admitting doctor. I live in the Miami area.  I’ll be happy to share the doctor’s name to anyone who lives here. If anyone knows any tricks to get a medical back really fast, please let me know.  I spoke with AOPA and they said to send the stuff and call them in 3 weeks and they’ll see if they can track it.  Even three weeks is a financial burden…especially when there’s nothing wrong with you.

Response:

It all started a few weeks ago, when I went to an urgent care clinic for what turned out to be bronchitis and pneumonia.  The doctor there ended up sending me to the hospital, but I’m not sure if it was due to miscommunication because I was admitted over the phone or what, but the hospital had me down as having "chest pain", which I’ve never had in my life. 2 weeks later, I went for my AME exam, and the guy I chose was new.  As a matter of fact I was his 1st ever exam!  It was a 2 hour exam, which shocked me, but that was fine, as everything was normal.  The only problem was that being with this guy for 2 hours, I got too chatty.  I happened to mention that since my father has a history of heart disease, I go to a cardiologist regularly, and everything there is okay too.  He got all upset that I didn’t put the name of any cardiologist on my application.  I said that it is all preventative, so I didn’t think it to be necessary, and I reiterated that the cardiologist says that I’m okay.  I even offered to give him the number of the cardiologist to confirm this.  He said he would be reporting this to the FAA. I told him that the FAA would probably revoke my medical and ask questions later, and that he should just check with my doctor. Well, it turns out he is on staff at that hospital, and decided to do his own investigation instead of talking to my cardiologist.  He told the FAA that I was recently hospitalized for "chest pain" and they, of course, revoked my medical. Now I’ve been scrambling around to get documentation…I went through a thalium stress test, got a letter from the urgent care doctor, a letter from my cardiologist, an EKG, blood results, and I even have an "Imatron" scan that shows I have absolutely 0 plaque in my coronary arteries. Who knows how long I’ll be grounded…just because this over-zealous AME refused to work with me.  Obviously when he found these hospital records, he thought it to be some "smoking gun."  He still should have called me, or the admitting doctor. I live in the Miami area.  I’ll be happy to share the doctor’s name to anyone who lives here. If anyone knows any tricks to get a medical back really fast, please let me know.  I spoke with AOPA and they said to send the stuff and call them in 3 weeks and they’ll see if they can track it.  Even three weeks is a financial burden…especially when there’s nothing wrong with you.

Response:

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