Originally Posted by
Mozam
How close do you think the FAA monitors and catches those who do not put the meds they are on their FAA MedXPress ? I am guessing they do not catch anyone or very few. There really is no way to monitor what meds a pilot is getting from their family doctor . I could be wrong, but I doubt it . The whole system is based on honesty for the most part .
Not exactly.
EVERYTHING is in a digital record these days. Several potential issues with that...
1. If any incident occurs, they will subpoena your medical records. Insulin is one of those things which can and has caused in-flight incapacitation events. If the FAA learns that you had diagnosed but undisclosed blood sugar issues, they will turn it over to the DOJ and you will go to jail. Historical fact, not speculation.
These events have been in the news, and I experienced one where a crew-member felt light headed and we called for EMTs at the gate. The FAA was all up in that business afterwards (fortunately, she didn't know she had any insulin issues until that day).
2. Mistakes happen. I have a good friend who's entire aviation career ended because he had several unreported medical issues. He was working to get on STD for something unrelated and in the process his personal doc accidentally sent his entire medical record to the insurance company, not just the records related to the minor issue at hand. The insurance company, which normally works with the FAA to facilitate re-gaining medicals, said they could no longer pursue re-certification unless ALL of the documented issues were addressed. They didn't want to be party to fraud basically.
Since trying to come clean with the FAA would have involved admitting a lengthy history of not disclosing significant medical issues, my friend's lawyer told him that there was no assurance that criminal penalties would not result, and that he had to drop his STD/LTD claims, drop his medical application, and find a new career.
3. What if you need to get a special issuance at some point? The past history of the condition, and the history of non-disclosure is now a potential criminal matter. In addition to loss of license. Once you go on record lying, you're stuck with the lie forever, like my buddy.
I would strongly recommend doing everything above-board with FAA aeromedical, otherwise you're walking in a regulatory minefield, and you'll have to keep taking another step forward in the minefield every 6-12 months until you retire.