| GENERAL INFORMATION
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| KEYWORDS
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Aviation medical certificate, schizophrenia
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| FILE NO.
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O-4210-28
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| SECTOR (Marine or Aviation)
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Aviation
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| SPECIFIC JOB
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---
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| DIAGNOSIS (Primary, Secondary, etc.)
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Schizophrenia
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| REVIEW
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| DATE OF DETERMINATION
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April 27, 2017
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| MEMBER
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Dr. Christopher Brooks
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| DETERMINATION
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The member confirms the Minister of Transport’s decision to refuse to issue an aviation medical certificate to the applicant.
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| REASONS FOR THE DETERMINATION
Refusal to issue an aviation medical certificate — The applicant did not appear at the hearing. However, in his request for review, did admit that he suffers from schizophrenia. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidelines and the Canadian Aviation Regulations are quite clear that any applicant who suffers from schizophrenia is disqualified from flying. In the applicant’s absence, to be fair to the applicant, the member decided to hear the latest information on his illness to confirm if he had been diagnosed correctly, and if so, to determine the strength or weakness in Transport Canada’s argument. The evidence submitted by the Minister of Transport (Minister) has shown that the applicant was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2013. It is also evident that the applicant has little insight into his illness and is not always compliant with his medication. His absence at the hearing with no reason provided, along with his doctor’s observations and the evidence presented at the hearing, confirms that the applicant is suffering from this disease. There is no cure, only medication that will most of the time reduce recurrent psychotic episodes and, in between, help the applicant with living his daily routine. The member concurs that the applicant has a psychiatric illness that is likely to interfere with the safe operation of an aircraft. Accordingly, the Minister has proven that the applicant fails to meet the qualifications necessary for a category 3 or category 4 medical certificate.
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| APPEAL
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| DATE OF DECISION
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| MEMBERS
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| DECISION
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| REASONS FOR THE DECISION
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| OTHER/COMMENTS
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