| GENERAL INFORMATION
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| KEYWORDS
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Marine medical certificate, sclerosis, medication, risk of infection, geographical limitations
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| FILE NO.
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MH-0446-21
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| SECTOR (Marine or Aviation)
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Marine
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| SPECIFIC JOB
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Master mariner
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| DIAGNOSIS (Primary, Secondary, etc.)
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Multiple sclerosis
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| REVIEW
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| DATE OF DETERMINATION
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June 1, 2017
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| MEMBER
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Dr. Christopher Brooks
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| DETERMINATION
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The member is referring the case back to the Minister to consider some relaxation of the restriction.
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| REASONS FOR THE DETERMINATION
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Limitation on a marine medical certificate (MMC) – Limited Contiguous Waters Voyage (LCWV) — The applicant is a master mariner who developed Multiple Sclerosis in 2008 and is being treated with an immune modulating medication. He was initially given an unrestricted MMC. At the applicant’s next renewal date in July 2016, however, the TC marine medical department issued him a Near Coastal (NC) I MMC with an LCWV. The reasons cited were the risk of infection and incapacitation at sea when taking the medication. He considers that with his history of previous sea time with no medical problems while on the medication, and holding an unlimited MMC, this sudden serious restriction is unjustified. The marine medical unit within Transport Canada (TC) gave him an unlimited MMC in 2012. However, it is a TC physician knowledgeable on the side effects of immune suppressant medication who reversed this decision and gave the applicant an LCWV limitation in June 2016, even though the applicant’s condition has remained stable throughout this time and in effect has improved. Therefore, the more stringent restriction is not supported by the evidence on file. The member determines that it is safe to allow the applicant to work 200 miles offshore, but not to work in international waters. The member is referring the case back to the Minister to consider some relaxation of the restriction.
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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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