Disclosing medical issue to FAA/IMS?
 

I've never had any issues, EVER, with any substance. I get a psychiatric evaluation for anxiety, which comes out clean, but there's a clinical diagnosis for alcohol abuse - however, it doesn't match the diagnostic criteria for this. I get a second opinion and the doc tells me the first eval was bogus and disagrees with it.

I no longer fly for a living so my continued medical certification isn't a top priority... I just want to get this sorted out legally without fearing that I didn't disclose something properly. If there's conflicting evaluations, what recourses do I have other than seeking an authorization and going through the recommended alcohol treatment stuff they have you do?

If you have a clinical diagnosis of alcoholism, and disclose that on your medical, you WILL NOT receive medical certification.

and if you are not in need of a valid airman's cert, case closed. If you are desirous of maintaining a valid ac and want to follow the law ; cease flying, notify faa of facts and follow their intructions.

Option 1: Stop flying.
Option 2: Disclose the diagnosis and have your application refused.
Option 3: Do not disclose.

There is a long list of conditions on the aviation medical application that require a yes or no. Are pilot applicants always truthful when it comes to checking the appropriate box? I don't think so. Some pilots deal stricly with their PCP on troublesome issues, but withhold that information on the medical application.

Just know that there are serious consequences if you are somehow exposed. I would also have a hard look at yourself and your attitude toward alcohol. You've been clinical diagnosed with alcoholism, yet you deny alcoholism and place responsibility on a flawed evaluation. Take care of yourself.

Erased - problem resolved.

For everyone reading this... there's multiple ways to resolve this situation. One of them is getting a hold of the FAA and an AME-IMS such as Dr. Fowler above, which I coincidentally set up an appointment with today.

Keep us posted please. Good luck with it.

I told an AME I was diagnosed with ADD when I was 9 but stopped taking medication at 11 and that cost me $1500 for an eval and another 4 months of waiting on them to respond!!!!

If it cant be discovered I would think twice about disclosing any information like that. However; you could possibly face federal charges if you lie to them. Hmmm

120PC: I'm in a similiar situation. Diagnosed, took the meds for a year and never took them again. Now I'm starting the process of getting my medical. Any words of advice? Friends of mine have said "just dont tell anyone or mark it on your medical", others say go down the route of full-disclosure. I'm wondering what I'm going to need to do after the full-disclosure. I called a doc that deals with these situations, he suggested going back to the diagnosing doc and get him to tell me I dont have ADD anymore. What are your thoughts? and did you get a clean medical or SI?

- Kross