Mailing List Archive

Mailing List: cavers

Message Display

In a message dated 4/8/2000 12:26:16 AM US Mountain Standard Time, "Michael 
Black" <mjblackmd@ya*.co*> writes:

<< Yes!! Even if the day after a major heart attack someone 
 is cleard by their doctor, then they are fine to go into 
 the water and take responsibility for the lives of 
 students. Since we have to go through years of training, 
 we doctors will know more than any of you ever will.
 Drysuits are very reliable, so the pacemaker, IV drip, 
 and piss bag should be well protected during the class.  >>

Hi Mike,

I assume you are saying this with your tongue planted firmly in your cheek.  
Otherwise aren't you coming out possibly just a little too strong?

Isn't it likely in a case such as this, that a physician would clear someone 
for an activity on the basis of not being able to find any contraindications? 
 And isn't it possible that even with his "years of training," there just 
possibly might be a physician who might miss some factor?  After all, half of 
the doctors practicing today are below average.  And some of them were way 
down in their graduating classes.  And aren't the minimum standards of some 
(possibly foreign) medical schools not quite as exacting as some of the more 
respected schools?

Given this situation, wouldn't you agree that even though there may be no 
obvious limitation on the activities of an individual, waiting a reasonable 
amount of time would be a prudent action before putting the individual in a 
potentially highly stressed environment where the very lives of students may 
easily depend on the capabilities of the individual?

Unfortunately I have no clear definition of "a reasonable amount of time."  
But I feel I owe it to my students to protect them from dangers over which I 
have control.  And repeatedly demonstrating capability, rather than simply 
relying on the word of a single physician, would seem to fall under this 
responsibility.

Wouldn't you agree?

Navigate by Author: [Previous] [Next] [Author Search Index]
Navigate by Subject: [Previous] [Next] [Subject Search Index]

[Send Reply] [Send Message with New Topic]

[Search Selection] [Mailing List Home] [Home]