Originally Posted by
Xdashdriver
Being an aviation medical consultant and an AME are not mutually exclusive. AMEs are like an airline APD....they put on the FAA hat for a specific event. Outside of the FAA medical exam they have no obligation to report anything to the FAA. Provided he sees someone that is familiar with how to handle his case it doesn't matter whether he's an AME or not. I would argue it is better to talk to someone who IS an AME and knows the current FAA protocols etc.
The consultants are typically former AME's. I'm not sure you're correct that a doc can take his AME hat on and off, at least not legally. Pretty sure if he learns something during normal practice, and them later conducts an FAA exam, he cannot "forget" what he knew.
Yes, I know there are some very "practical" AME's out there... in fact I know one myself. But no guarantee that a non-pilot kid will get the same consideration as a 121 pilot with an established relationship with the doc.