| GENERAL INFORMATION
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| KEYWORDS
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Marine medical certificate, mental health
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| FILE NO.
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MA-0525-28
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| SECTOR (Marine or Aviation)
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Marine
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| SPECIFIC JOB
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Various seafarer positions
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| DIAGNOSIS (Primary, Secondary, etc.)
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Chronic schizoaffective disorder
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| REVIEW
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| DATE OF DETERMINATION
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July 2, 2019
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| MEMBER
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Dr. Brian Wagg
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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) — Evidence adduced by the Minister of Transport’s representative has convinced the member that the applicant has suffered for many years from schizoaffective disorder, bipolar subtype. This form of mental illness is considered by all authorities cited to render an applicant for, or holder of, an MMC unfit for duty at sea. In spite of a history of years of acceptable, trouble-free performance at sea according to the applicant’s testimony and his treating physicians, there continues to be an unacceptable risk for deterioration and recurrence of psychosis, mania, depression or delusions. This has the potential then to put at risk the safety of the applicant, those with whom he works and the public in general. A troubling issue was raised at the hearing where in marine medical examination reports, the history of the applicant’s psychiatric condition had not been previously reported except for his last one. The applicant testified that he was not asked about mental illness during the examinations and therefore did not report it. Consequently, the member had to consider that this lapse adversely affects the credibility of the information that otherwise might have supported the applicant’s case. The Minister’s decision not to issue an MMC is confirmed.
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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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