When our business went under over 20 years ago, finances precluded flying and my medical expired. During this period I developed rheumatoid arthritis, probably stress induced, but it had gone into remission with no symptoms remaining. When renewing my licence I had simply forgotten about it. Our then GP joined the group where the medical examiner works, casa were told and made questionable demands. Demands including reports from the rheumatologist I had last visited in the previous millennia and regular blood tests. Any attempt by myself or our GP to put matters into perspective met with the same form letter; no explanation or reason. They did however accept a statement from the GP as to my flexibility but put me on a 12 month cycle; subject to their review of the authorised medical examiner's decision.
My last medical, October 2012 had been partly completed online when their site locked up, so the examiner completed it using the printed form. A couple of weeks later a letter arrived to state that although payment had been received the documents from their examiner had not. No great issue, this had happened before. When obtaining the required copies I was assured that they had first been faxed then a hard copy sent. Somehow casa lost both. Some weeks later another letter from casa arrived demanding a series of tests from a cardiologist even though there had been no change since the previous medical. As the 2 month grace period was about to expire a request for an extension was made, rejected, and our gliding club was down a tow pilot at their Christmas camp. Some 3 weeks after the specialist visit nothing had been heard from casa so a call was made enquiring as to the progress of my medical; response.. Nothing has been received. Records showed that a number of pages had been faxed to casa's number on the stated date. Another copy was obtained and sent. Although not stated, it was implied that preference was given to those whose problems were real, not bureaucratic. I have now received another letter asking again for information which had been included with the examining doctor's initial report. Also demanded is information which had been included with the cardiologist's report and another demand for a report from the rheumatologist. Up till then casa had been satisfied with the blood tests and a report from our GP that everything was normal. No consideration as to whether these reports are in anyway meaningful or relevant, no consideration for the cost or inconvenience. When an organization sets the standards for those it deals with, the expectation is that it would conform to a similar level itself. casa try to project an aura of competence, expertise and authority. "We are the experts, we know what is best, how dare you question anything we do or ask of you". In reality they are a bunch of bumbling, self serving bureaucrats as one doctor describes their medical licensing section. The authorised medical examiner cannot see any reason why I can't fly, but people who have never seen, let alone examined me are creating a job for themselves by making ever more onerous and unjustifiable demands. There is a rumour that casa's doctors are using us as a captive control sample for research. Can anyone verify this? When our business went under over 20 years ago, finances precluded flying and my medical expired. During this period I developed rheumatoid arthritis, probably stress induced, but it had gone into remission with no symptoms remaining. When renewing my licence I had simply forgotten about it. Our then GP joined the group where the medical examiner works, casa were told and made questionable demands. Demands including reports from the rheumatologist I had last visited in the previous millennia and regular blood tests. Any attempt by myself or our GP to put matters into perspective met with the same form letter; no explanation or reason. They did however accept a statement from the GP as to my flexibility but put me on a 12 month cycle; subject to their review of the authorised medical examiner's decision. My last medical, October 2012 had been partly completed online when their site locked up, so the examiner completed it using the printed form. A couple of weeks later a letter arrived to state that although payment had been received the documents from their examiner had not. No great issue, this had happened before. When obtaining the required copies I was assured that they had first been faxed then a hard copy sent. Somehow casa lost both. Some weeks later another letter from casa arrived demanding a series of tests from a cardiologist even though there had been no change since the previous medical. As the 2 month grace period was about to expire a request for an extension was made, rejected, and our gliding club was down a tow pilot at their Christmas camp. Some 3 weeks after the specialist visit nothing had been heard from casa so a call was made enquiring as to the progress of my medical; response.. Nothing has been received. Records showed that a number of pages had been faxed to casa's number on the stated date. Another copy was obtained and sent. Although not stated, it was implied that preference was given to those whose problems were real, not bureaucratic. I have now received another letter asking again for information which had been included with the examining doctor's initial report. Also demanded is information which had been included with the cardiologist's report and another demand for a report from the rheumatologist. Up till then casa had been satisfied with the blood tests and a report from our GP that everything was normal. No consideration as to whether these reports are in anyway meaningful or relevant, no consideration for the cost or inconvenience. When an organization sets the standards for those it deals with, the expectation is that it would conform to a similar level itself. casa try to project an aura of competence, expertise and authority. "We are the experts, we know what is best, how dare you question anything we do or ask of you". In reality they are a bunch of bumbling, self serving bureaucrats as one doctor describes their medical licensing section. The authorised medical examiner cannot see any reason why I can't fly, but people who have never seen, let alone examined me are creating a job for themselves by making ever more onerous and unjustifiable demands. There is a rumour that casa's doctors are using us as a captive control sample for research. Can anyone verify this?
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