Thread: Budget 2015 sneaky bit

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

You will note my post said "may be a thing of the past".

I am not at all saying that people should endanger other road users with a medical condition and that includes car drivers, there are many people with stable Type I and Type II diabetes who continue to drive commercially. But even the diagnsis of sleep apnoea can cause the authorities to suspend a licence until the driver can get medical proof that the condition will not endanger other road users.

The problem is that when the RMS finds out a commercial heavy vehicle driver has a medical condition it can result in the licence being suspended and the driver having to have a barrage of tests and consultations before they get their licence back, all at their own expense (outside Medicare) while they aren't working and earning an income to pay for it. It is far better to be proactive and have the tests, consultations and authorisation first.

The issue is that at the stroke of a pen the government can authorise transfer of personal information between departments and governments which can seriously impact one's life.

Google has enough information about me already, why should the Government have it too!

As you noted... If you have the tests done and pre-empt the requirements then you have demonstrated your duty-of-care.

If you have not had a management plan / risk assessment, then I suggest it is responsible behaviour on the part of our government to intervene and ensure the safety of the greater population ("The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few - or the one" Spock) by ensuring an individual poses no additional risk.

If this results in a required change of career then so be it...

And Government departments have been sharing personal information for decades - I've been involved with/in such systems... If medical information is shared eg. to licensing and the relevant medical statements to confirm the person is safe to operate machinery/plant/equipment then I see no problem with that.

As long as the information is used under controls to prevent improper manipulation...

Hi Tombie

The issue of it being listed on your e-health record is that it when you get the initial diagnosis or whatever, your Doc may still doing tests and in his (sic) opinion believes that you're O.K. to continue to work while the tests and consultations are done. However when it goes straight on the eHealth record the RMS may act immediately to put you off work, even though you're O.K to work but haven't had time for the test results and to go to the specialist.

Maybe I still remember George Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four" book and the effects of "big brother" (not the reality show).

Diana

And during that time period if you have an event and kill a family or a bus full of school children - then who is responsible?

Especially if the results conclude the same?!

At work here if there is any doubt of fitness for work you are sent home on pay pending results...

People diagnosed with type II diabetes are often started on hypoglycaemic medication based purely on a one off fasting blood sugar. The doctor doesn't always order a Glucose tolerance test and medications (like Metformin) don't actually reduce blood sugar, they modify the uptake of sugar and reduce release of sugars from the liver so they are unlikely to cause hypoglycaemia or hypoglycaemic coma.

However the RMS state in their guidelines to GPs that hypoglycaemic medication is incompatible with commercial heavy vehicle driving.

So the heavy vehicle driver may be off the road merely for a BSL of about 8 or 9 and on a single metformin tablet daily with absolutely no risk of a hypoglycaemic event.

Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

The onset of a hypo happens slowly and a person becomes quite distressed and lethargic long before blackout

not always the case. they become aggressive and unreasonable.

Originally Posted by Eevo

not always the case. they become aggressive and unreasonable.

Too right!

On arrival in the emergency department it can be difficult to differentiate between an aggressive drunk and someone having a hypo, until you either do a BGL or give them some glucose!

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Too right!

On arrival in the emergency department it can be difficult to differentiate between an aggressive drunk and someone having a hypo, until you either do a BGL or give them some glucose!

i'm sure (although politically incorrect), we're all had an experience with an angry aboriginal person, often the're in a hypo. aboriginal physiology mean they are more have have hypo's, as well as less alcohol tolerance and a few other medical things.

I'm sorry to have to say this but is of the utmost importance when members are making statements about chronic diseases and illnesses that they fully access the correct information before making public statements.

As you have read I am a diabetes type2 sufferer......but I don't suffer at all really.

My wife is a highly professional chronic disease facillitator and trainer and specialises in diabetes management , which involves consulting with and training doctors and diabetes specialists in all areas of diabetes management.

She lectures and speaks at many large medical forums in front of quite large numbers of medical fraternity members.

Many statements already made in this thread about diabetes are incorrect and I am not going to go to the extent of cutting any one person down about it.

My wife has read this thread and being a nice quiet person simply says, "if those making statements feel good about it, and those reading the said statements believe them , then more silly them".