Question
I have a guy I golf with who was having minimal to no symptoms (slight dyspena with exertion, transient chest pain) who went in for a cardiolyte stress test and left with a baloon/rotablade angioplasty for moderate blockage. His tests are all fine, he has had the "milloin dollar workup", and as far as his PMD and Cardiologist are concerned he could climb Mt Everest.
He was between driving jobs at the time and now is unsure if he should mention this chain of events during his next DOT physical. Aside from the old admonition to always be forthcoming and tell the truth, would the history of an angioplasty DQ him from driving interstate??
Thanks in advance, (and no, it's not me, I'm too mean to get sick)
Answer
Hi Psycho!
The answer to your question is not one that has a definite answer. The reason is that every examiner has their own interpretation of the medical requirements as handed down by the DOT.
Plain and simply it states that there must be no "current diagnosis" of cardiac problems that has not been corrected. As you can see, that is a very general statement that leaves a lot of room for individual interpretation.
A few years back, the DOT got a group of medical people together and held a conference to further define these regs. They took the regs apart, word for word, dissected them ad nauseum and issued 'Guidelines'. Not regulations, just guidelines. In those guidelines it is recommended that the driver must have a statement from his cardiologist indicating that the doctor is aware of what the driver's job duties are and that in his opinion, the diagnosis will not affect his ability to perform them. They then went on to say that this should be verified by a YEARLY stress test.
Now some examiners will ask about cardiac history and take the driver's word if he answers no, or gives a brief explanation indicating he is OK now. Some will take it to the hilt and insist on the back up of a stress test. So, all in all, it depends on the examiner and how much of a stickler the company wants to be.
Isn't that about as clear as mud? Let me know if you need more info.
Happy golfing, psycho.
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Keeping you safe, healthy, and on the road.
Nurse Red
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Answer
Well, he's an O/O and the company he wants to lease to doesn't care where he gets his physical from. Maybe I'll just send him to you guys. He has his truck worked on in Odenton, so it wouldn't be that far out of the way.
Of course thats if he can find a parking place