| GENERAL INFORMATION
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| KEYWORDS
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Marine medical certificate, vision
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| FILE NO.
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MA-0468-28
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| SECTOR (Marine or Aviation)
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Marine
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| SPECIFIC JOB
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Cleaner with a transit ferry system
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| DIAGNOSIS (Primary, Secondary, etc.)
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Myopia
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| REVIEW
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| DATE OF DETERMINATION
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May 28, 2018
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| MEMBER
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Dr. Christopher Brooks
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| DETERMINATION
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Minister’s decision is confirmed.
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| REASONS FOR THE DETERMINATION
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Refusal to issue a marine medical certificate (MMC) — The applicant applied to become a deck hand and her doctor signed her off as fit to attend a marine survival training course. No record was made on the medical screening form that she underwent a visual acuity test at this time. The applicant successfully passed the course and subsequently was issued a temporary six-month MMC, fit with limitation (corrective lenses required). This certificate expired on June 2, 2017. Upon receipt of the marine medical examination report, the degree of the applicant’s visual impairment was questioned by Transport Canada (TC). Later, when her uncorrected vision was assessed by an optometrist and converted to the Snellen scale, it measured 20/800 or worse in both eyes. This is well below national and international visual standards for seafarers, which ultimately led to the cancellation of her provisional MMC. The TC expert witness testified that the standards are all laid down in the national and international guidelines, and stated that if the applicant’s distance vision was marginally below the standards, she would allow some accommodation. However, with such severe myopia, this was not acceptable and it was simply a matter of public safety. The Minister of Transport’s decision is confirmed by the member.
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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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