How Much of a Liability Am I?

[mlewis30]

Recently, I asked my cardiologist if it would be okay for me to become a school bus driver for the local school. Of course, I have no intention of waking up that early, but the idea of it raised some questions that I could not answer: Medically, am I at risk for a catastrophic event at an inopportune time putting others in jeopardy? Ethically, should I automatically exclude myself from positions where others are in my care? Legally, can an employer or organization exclude me based on my medical condition?

My medical condition is this, 59-yr old male with mechanical aortic and mitral valves after a bout of vegetative endocarditis. All done one year ago. My EKG is normal and my heart has been checked out numerous ways, and besides Click and Clack, the muscle is in good condition.

I ask this now because Saturday I have an interview for a scholarship where I would receive free flying lessons leading to a pilot’s license in exchange for future volunteering flying semi-urgent medical patients off-island to nearby medical facilities. (I live on an island.) I actually want this position, or do I (?)

Now, pilot license requirements include passing a medical check, which I am sure I would pass – unless their knee-jerk reaction upon hearing about my valves (or just plain hearing them) is to reject me. Again, my questions are, “do they have objective reason to reject me?”, “should I even be applying for this?”, “if they do reject me, how would I argue my position?”

My cardiologist’s answer to the school bus question was, “as long as you stay on the Metoprolol and keep your INR in check, you should be okay to take the job”. I was hoping for more insight.

 

[nobog]

“do they have objective reason to reject me?”
No - what if they rejected someone with an artificial hip?
“should I even be applying for this?”
That's up to you.

As to volunteering flying semi-urgent medical patients, I would think they would want someone with a minimum of 100's of flight hours - but don't quote me on that.

In any event, good luck!

 

[Protimenow]

There's another pilot here, and if I recall correctly, he had to jump through some hoops to be licensed. I'm not sure WHAT hoops, or what kind of waiting period he needed, but it wasn't a slam dunk.

As Nobog noted, you probably DO need hundreds of hours experience if you'll be carrying passengers (especially those requiring emergency services) from island to mainland. But you may already know this.

The question of liability is a bit thorny. Before I had my aortic valve replaced with a mechanical, my surgeon told me that I'll have no issues getting life insurance - my heart was fixed. The reality is that even if my heart was 'fixed,' I was considered too big a liability to insure. Your 'liability' may be up to your local State or City.

It might be a good idea to check with local authorities just to be sure - before going through the process of applying, testing, etc. for a job that they might be prevented from giving you.

 

[pellicle]

Good Morning

My cardiologist’s answer to the school bus question was, “as long as you stay on the Metoprolol and keep your INR in check, you should be okay to take the job”. I was hoping for more insight.

perhaps you're expecting too much (beyond reasonable) from your cardiologist. After all they can only answer questions on the highly specialised issue of your heart.

I think that the answer comes best from you yourself. Don't discount you as being the one most likely to know the actual story. Unless of course you're the type to tell stories about who you'd like to be rather than look at who you really are, that's pretty common in the world.

There are a lot worse issues than what you have put above in terms of being a good pilot (although being a fighter pilot is probable off the table here). If you pass a physical then you pass.

Follow your goals with the knowledge that you don't get a second go at life and regret comes from not having tried.

Best Wishes

 

[LondonAndy]

I'm not sure what country you are in, @mlewis30, but in the UK such questions would be handled by restrictions on your driving licence. I am an insulin dependent diabetic, and so my licence has to be renewed every 3 years with enquiries made of my doctor to confirm I am not going to have a hypo unexpectedly and pass out etc. I also had to inform our licence authority when I got a pacemaker. They do not impose any restrictions due to my valve.

 

[carolinemc]

Recently, I asked my cardiologist if it would be okay for me to become a school bus driver for the local school. Of course, I have no intention of waking up that early, but the idea of it raised some questions that I could not answer: Medically, am I at risk for a catastrophic event at an inopportune time putting others in jeopardy? Ethically, should I automatically exclude myself from positions where others are in my care? Legally, can an employer or organization exclude me based on my medical condition?

My medical condition is this, 59-yr old male with mechanical aortic and mitral valves after a bout of vegetative endocarditis. All done one year ago. My EKG is normal and my heart has been checked out numerous ways, and besides Click and Clack, the muscle is in good condition.

I ask this now because Saturday I have an interview for a scholarship where I would receive free flying lessons leading to a pilot’s license in exchange for future volunteering flying semi-urgent medical patients off-island to nearby medical facilities. (I live on an island.) I actually want this position, or do I (?)

Now, pilot license requirements include passing a medical check, which I am sure I would pass – unless their knee-jerk reaction upon hearing about my valves (or just plain hearing them) is to reject me. Again, my questions are, “do they have objective reason to reject me?”, “should I even be applying for this?”, “if they do reject me, how would I argue my position?”

My cardiologist’s answer to the school bus question was, “as long as you stay on the Metoprolol and keep your INR in check, you should be okay to take the job”. I was hoping for more insight.

Your heart is one issue and your age, which is in the heart attack range. But it depends on the medical requirements to get a license. And transporting patients is a stressful job to do. If you think you want to pursue, with restrictions, go for it. Otherwise, depends on what is required by the licensing board for being a pilot.

 

[mlewis30]

Thank you all for the feedback. Living with these valves is all very new for me. Pellicle, I do not expect much from the cardiologist, and that is usually what I get. When I was told that I shouldn't ride a motorcycle anymore, I took it with a grain of salt. I have ridden my bike to over 40-countries, and have always lived my life for the experience involved. Navigating what is possible now, and what is not, is all new to me. Or, maybe I am overthinking things. Onward!

 

[pellicle]

Pellicle, I do not expect much from the cardiologist, and that is usually what I get.

that's the spirit!!

(I guess you've seen I ride a bike too)

Best Wishes

 

[tom in MO]

Thank you all for the feedback. Living with these valves is all very new for me. Pellicle, I do not expect much from the cardiologist, and that is usually what I get. When I was told that I shouldn't ride a motorcycle anymore, I took it with a grain of salt. I have ridden my bike to over 40-countries, and have always lived my life for the experience involved. Navigating what is possible now, and what is not, is all new to me. Or, maybe I am overthinking things. Onward!

At 60yo, be careful on your motorcycle. I have a friend who quit riding due to a turtle. He rode for years, since his early 20s. Then one day during spring he almost hit a turtle in the road. He realized that with age his reaction time was not what it used to be and things in the road he could readily avoid, he no longer could.