Some pilots not fessing up on medical information

BOSTON — Among the studies presented at this week’s American Academy of Neurology meeting in Boston: research that uncovered a potentially serious problem among pilots.

Dr. William Hoffman of the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, surveyed about 3,700 pilots — military, private, and paid-civilian — and found avoidance of medical disclosure and medical encounters quite common. For example, about seven percent of pilots admitted to not disclosing prescription drugs. More than double that proportion said they didn’t disclose new symptoms. More than a quarter admitted to being untruthful on medical forms — and nearly half turned to nonprofessionals for medical advice versus seeing a doctor.

The study found younger pilots more likely to practice medical avoidance than older pilots — and the practice more common among active-duty military pilots as well as those who belong to  unions.

Hoffman’s research is preliminary, so it has not been published yet. However, he is the lead author on a similar study last fall published in Military Medicine. It found medical avoidance and non-disclosure a significant problem among military pilots. The motive for hiding medical information, the study found: concern about losing flying status.

The FAA requires commercial pilots to disclose medical conditions and medications during physical examinations — because there are some things which would preclude a pilot from flying. Short-term treatment with medications doesn’t necessarily disqualify pilots — but it may mean a break from work until the regimen is finished.

At Logan International Airport, we found varying passenger opinions on the importance of medical disclosure among pilots.

Pramel Shah agreed pilots should disclose all medications.

“Well, obviously they’re flying a plane full of people so if they don’t disclose what medication they’re on,  that can affect flights,” he said. “Falling asleep, you know?”

Emily Hawarah saw grey areas with this issue.

“I think there’s definitely privacy issues associated with employees having to disclose things to their employers/the public,” she said.

Kane Goodman trusts pilot judgement.

“I mean, there would only be certain drugs, I would say, that would impair their condition,” Goodman said. “And I would assume they would not be allowed to take those while flying.”

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