lawyer

On some vessels as part of company policy you have to list all meds you are on in addition to other legal questions such as have you hurt yourself since your last time off or do you have a twic, ect, ect.

What I am wondering is are these sheets even legal?

For a company to ask you what kinds of meds you are on is ok. That is why you take a physical with their doctor where you list any meds and or medical conditions. From there it is decided if you are fit for duty.

Same goes for the coast guard.

Not all companies use the standard Coast Guard form for their physicals. Some companies take it step farther than the coast guard basic physical form and requirements because they will be insuring your health and your life.

I understand there are many crew members that we have to keep things simple stupid for and they need to answer a questonaire about whether they are taking a drug that might affect their ability to do the job safely or may have hurt themselves at home and try to pawn it off as a work place injury but it seems like the very nature of the information being listed on the boarding form itself should be kept between the coast guard, the company doctor, and the head of HR.

If I have been cleared to take a prescription laxative, should I have to list that I am having a problem taking a dump on a form that everyone from my captain the the bottom HR employee that sorts the paperwork out is going to be able to see?

This is what I am getting at. Privacy is privacy and if the coast guard and the company doctor say it is ok to take it and you don't have to worry about failing a drug screen then does everyone from the captain to the office really need to know your priveledged health history?

Privacy is privacy

Let's just say I have this friend who.

his back is blown out and he still manages to make it by the company physical xray but he gos to his own doctor for his back and keeps it quiet from the company so they don't think he is going to try and sue them for an old injury.

Now there is talk about a national online involutary medical database for all amercians. Kind of like MIB only your entire medical history from the time you are a peanut to the time you are 6' under.

Kinda scarry man. Big brother is moving in and we don't even know it.

Not gonna be able to slide under the radar for a bad back, knees, ect anymore.

Yes some companies and the cg will grant waivers but others will not. In addition to an unnecessary risk on their vessels and any special accomodation they may have to make, one day their insurance company is going to have to pay to fix you and that means higher premiums in the long run.

But this friend of mine refuses to be sidelined for back pain or any other physical ailment as long as his mind is still in the game.

Screw SSI when you can make 15 times that a year by not being diabled especially when you don't want to be.

Most responsible crew members do not need to list anything regarding their health on a boarding form.

A responsible crew member will have already advised the proper person in charge in his company and the company doctor before even trying to come back especiall if you have to be cleared for duty by your doctor.

Bottom line.

Violation of HIPPA law or not?