Thread: The letter about a renewed FAL comes to his GP.

An assumption i admit but after contact from police to report your "fitness" why would a dr not record that interaction as they are expected to notify police if your "state of mind changes"

Originally Posted by MB

In that case, I think the doctor concerned did the right thing.

Doctor is not very happy taking responsibility for the police.
My doctor thinks I’m a bit twisted, but I told her she’s worse than me, by a long stretch.

From recollection, in the original advice given to doctors, they were told the fact that patient has a F.A.L. Should be recorded on their files in a prominent manner, or words to that effect.

Originally Posted by StrikerNZ

From recollection, in the original advice given to doctors, they were told the fact that patient has a F.A.L. Should be recorded on their files in a prominent manner, or words to that effect.

Oh dear, another case of the police writing their own 'laws'?

Originally Posted by StrikerNZ

From recollection, in the original advice given to doctors, they were told the fact that patient has a F.A.L. Should be recorded on their files in a prominent manner, or words to that effect.

And if they don’t do that what will happen?

Cops take Drs practicing certificate away?

I had an interesting discussion with my doctor regarding "suitability to hold licence" - and the practice had a check list that they filled out and totalled up the points, and I came up as high risk.

I challenged this, and he showed my the check list (top marks they were being consistent to all), basically I gained to many points becuase I was 1) a male 2) Single 3) had speeding offences - this tipped me to high risk. Thank goodness I hadnt been in for a consultation on depression.

He did at least accept my reasoning and accept they needed to look at the process, but - I mean WTF - it took me to point this out, that half the population were being penalised. I was a little offended that I and half the poulation were being stereotyped in this way.

I'd say your GP practice is run a bunch of anti-gun fruit loops. None of those things are health reasons.

thats quite bizarre. none of those things should be a red flag really.

There's no way a GP should be being asked for a patient's mental health status. That is not their role. Ok, sure if they believe that a person in mentally unstable, then notify the correct dept.

A Dr cannot release any information to the Police directly about a patient.

The answer was
1) Male - higher risk of suicide
2) Single - higher risk of anti social tendances (obviously being single is considered abnormal)
3) Traffic offences - A risk taker with a disregard for authority

The next time I was in - the doctor was a late 50s australiation chappie I saw for an ACC referral for deafness. He was more interested in all the best places for shooting when he wrote up the background for my hearing impediments - alas only a locum and has moved on. (bloody good doctor too - knew all the best things for performance enhancements)

I guess this just highlights some more the stupidity we have to contend with on a day to day basis.

Originally Posted by Doghead

I had an interesting discussion with my doctor regarding "suitability to hold licence" - and the practice had a check list that they filled out and totalled up the points, and I came up as high risk.

I challenged this, and he showed my the check list (top marks they were being consistent to all), basically I gained to many points becuase I was 1) a male 2) Single 3) had speeding offences - this tipped me to high risk. Thank goodness I hadnt been in for a consultation on depression.

He did at least accept my reasoning and accept they needed to look at the process, but - I mean WTF - it took me to point this out, that half the population were being penalised. I was a little offended that I and half the poulation were being stereotyped in this way.

What the heck is a Doctor doing with information about traffic offenses? Nothing to do with them.

Originally Posted by Doghead

I had an interesting discussion with my doctor regarding "suitability to hold licence" - and the practice had a check list that they filled out and totalled up the points, and I came up as high risk.

I challenged this, and he showed my the check list (top marks they were being consistent to all), basically I gained to many points becuase I was 1) a male 2) Single 3) had speeding offences - this tipped me to high risk. Thank goodness I hadnt been in for a consultation on depression.

He did at least accept my reasoning and accept they needed to look at the process, but - I mean WTF - it took me to point this out, that half the population were being penalised. I was a little offended that I and half the poulation were being stereotyped in this way.

Bottom line is, fit and proper and you'll get a FAL.

Risk assessment is a house of cards, a good lawyer can pick it to bits by asking a few questions. It comes down to that no-one is "no-risk", at the best you are "low-risk", or "average risk". But a good cop, if concerned at all, will do the right thing and pull the pin on a license ... thereby passing that headache on to the court to make the final decision. Safety first and cover your butt first.

Drs are in no position to make a full risk assessment as they don't have your criminal record or police intel on your gang connections, nor do they interview your boss, etc. All they are is a third referee (grammar?) and they would naturally prefer not to have to be the person that blocked someone from getting a FAL (or driving license).

But @tac a1, GPs are able to do a mental health assessment and do those every working day. We're allowed to, actually we are *required* to, inform if there is someone out there that we have serious safety concerns over, whether a pilot or a FAL holder. But like I said, we deal with real people that we know and we would not make such a call lightly, it would have to be way out there.

My GP retired. no one bought his practice so it was amalgamated into a new "medical centre" who at the moment has lost all of their doctors... So no doctor on hand at all. It would be interesting if I was reapplying for a licence!

Originally Posted by bumblefoot

My GP retired. no one bought his practice so it was amalgamated into a new "medical centre" who at the moment has lost all of their doctors... So no doctor on hand at all. It would be interesting if I was reapplying for a licence!

So neither negative or positive for you ... unless indeed your medical notes contain references to regular, excess alcohol and resulting Othello syndrome.

Originally Posted by Maca49

A doctor was asked to give his opinion of a patient mental health for FAL renewal. His reply was, he wasn’t qualified in that area and if they needed to know, they would be better asking a suitably qualified professional.
The problem they have is if they say your of sound mind and you prove to be otherwise by you actions, the police will put the buck/blame firmly on their shoulders.
It is wrong on so many fronts, they’ll be doing it with lawyers next

your GP is dead right ,and furthermore this is repetition on NZ police part as under pre existing health regulations they(and other named government depts) had specific power to enquire of any health professional information relating to a person with whom they were dealing .mind you the information had to be again specifically related to matter being enquired into.
I know because as a former registered psychiatric nurse (48yrs)I actually struck this on a couple of occasions -but i referred them to the treating clinician (psychiatrist who dealt with it )-lots of shagging about complying with privacy act and requirement for patients permission under code of rights .GPs are generally not pyschiatrist /psychologists whose forte is mental health ,so unless it is something you have mentioned in a conversation with them or rellies have expressed concerns directly then I see not basis for an opinion.I had this happen me late in my career when following an attempt to kill myself and a policeman by an irate client in her car I was placed off work on ACC(totally fucking hopeless).ACCwanted me to return to work wanting my locum GP to provide say so -he refused on grounds hes not qualified as psychologist/psychiatrist.they also asked for my EAP counseller( Psychologist) for her notes on my session s (bloody good )she told them no ,I hadnt given permission and she'd need payment up front for services rendered to them. Ireturned to work eventually after we came to a locum arrangement.
My last vetting for my license renewal the vetter a somewhat ignorant ex traffic cop made some idiotic comments re "nutters" in general and i had to get a GPs cert -I quickly sat him on his arse and got a very crestfallen apology.Ihave depression for 30yrs + but my GPs laughed like hell gave me 100% clearance as in the words on one youd know more about this K......so we should be asking you.I also had a similar experience as a refEree for GSPF when another vettor (a local yoga teacher)asked me about their health as per her POLICE questionnare .She was told in nouncertain terms i would not release such information without their permission as per law an furthmore it was high time Nz POLICE overthauled their paperwork and did some homework on such matters.my comments verbatim ended up written on the form with her comment apparently they were in throes of an overhaul!!!
GSPF thought it a real joke for that whole vetting w as again a fuckup due to the arrogance of certain policemen wanting me to travel 80kmfor a meeting in a public carpark!!!!!!!
actually in hindsight the copper involved did apologise for "inconveniencing' me!!