SPUMS POLICIES
DRAFT SPUMS POLICY ON MEDICAL PRACTITIONER CERTIFICATION OF FITNESS FOR DIVING
Andy Veale, Drew Richardson and Des Gorman
Introduction
The Society's 1995 Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) at Castaway Island, Fiji was dedicated to the theme of fitness for diving. It became apparent during the meeting that the traditional prescription-based approach to diving fitness assessments in recreational diving candidates is no longer appropriate. Indeed, there was consensus that a more discretionary approach was warranted. This would involve the medical practitioner in a risk assessment rather than a regulatory role, but would require a greater level of practitioner insight and training.
Dr Andy Veale proposed a system of tiered review, with a cascade of assessments, performed to AS4005.1 standards, from a general practitioner without training in diving medicine to a trained practitioner to a specialist in diving medicine. This was said to be the status quo in New Zealand and Dr Mike Davis read a letter from the New Zealand Underwater Association arguing the efficacy of this approach. A consensus was not reached on this issue, but it is considered to be of sufficient importance to warrant a review at next year's ASM.
A consensus was however quickly reached on the current practice of certifying a person "fit to dive". This is clearly nonsensical for an air breathing mammal. Dr Veale proposed a risk related liability-acceptance style of "certification" that met with the approval of the members at the meeting and was considered by the diving instructor agencies to be compatible with their practice. This is proposed as Society policy (see below).
Workshops are now used as the vehicle to produce Society policy. This is certainly a better system than the previous approach of "someone" on the Society's Executive Committee being responsible for such policy development. These Workshops are advertised and anyone wishing to be involved, but being unable to attend, is invited to submit their views in writing. Consequently, there is no need for a review of the outcome of these Workshops through the Journal. This is clearly not the case here, as the membership was not informed of any intent by the Society to produce a policy on diving fitness certification. It follows that this policy is submitted as a draft and members and associates are invited to comment on the draft in writing through the Editor of the Journal. These comments will be considered by the Society Executive before the draft policy is accepted and forwarded to Standards Australia for inclusion in Standard AS 4005.1.
Draft SPUMS policy statement on the "certification" of candidates for recreational diving.
A medical practitioner's statement of the compatibility of a candidate's health and recreational diving must include both an acknowledgment of "health risk" and an acceptance of liability by the candidate. The format below should be used.
Print certificate across page.
Key words
health surveillance, diving fitness
Dr Andy Veale, FRACP, is a consultant to the Royal New Zealand Navy and Auckland HealthCare. His address is 42 Omahu Road, Remeura, Auckland, New Zealand.
Drew Richardson, BSc, MBA, is Vice-President, Training, Education and Memberships of PADI International. His address is 1251 East Dyer Road, # 100, Santa Ana, California 92705-5606, U.S.A.
Dr Des Gorman, FAFOM, PhD is a consultant to the Royal New Zealand Navy and Head, Occupational Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Auckland. His address is Private Bag 92 019, Auckland, New Zealand. | 
