AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - March 2020 - 108

NEWS & NOTES

PILOT PROTECTION SERVICES

One size doesn't fit all
The art and science of medicine
AOPA'S MEDICAL certification staff of six
specialists has more than 60 years of combined experience in the often-complex,
bureaucratic, time-consuming, and frustrating process of satisfying the FAA safety
regulators that we, as aviators, are medically
safe to occupy the national airspace.
Medicine is a multifaceted discipline.
Most of us as patients and consumers of
health care services and products know
medicine clinically. We see the physician,
nurse practitioner, lab technician, or physical therapist in a clinical setting.
But there's also research medicine,
administrative medicine, and "regulatory medicine," where pilots with medical
issues find themselves when they receive a
letter from the FAA asking for more information. The distinction between regulatory
and clinical medicine is important because
it often puts the pilot in the middle of a philosophical and operational impasse between
the treating physician-the clinician, and
the FAA-the regulators, whose roles are
sometimes in conflict.
Consider heart disease, one of the
most common medical diagnoses affecting pilots in the United States. Clinically,
the pilot's cardiologist is treating that disease with respect to symptoms, diagnostic

GARY CRUMP

Pilot Protection Services

procedures to assess the severity of disease
and determine appropriate treatment, the
patient's ongoing quality of life, and the
overall appropriate recognized standard of
care for the diagnosis. This becomes a consideration for pilots because health care
providers-that is, insurance companies, as
well as hospital administrators and medical
ethics boards-have input about what treatment is reasonable and appropriate.
As long as the patient is symptom-free
and has no clinical indications or a progression of the condition that could threaten
quality of life, the treating physician is doing
his or her job to render care within the constraints of the established standard of care.
Now, let's say that patient with coronary
heart disease that is partially obstructing

one or more of the coronary arteries that
supplies blood to the heart muscle has the
standard diagnostic procedures. If that
testing reveals obstructive lesions in the
coronary circulation-blockages that reduce
the blood supply through the affected artery,
a condition called myocardial ischemia-the
cardiologist determines the best treatment
plan for the patient.
If the patient isn't a pilot, it's all good.
However, that same patient who presents to
the FAA a cardiovascular evaluation in support of a medical certificate is most likely
going to be denied medical certification.
aopa.org/pps
GARY CRUMP is senior director of AOPA's

Medical Certification staff.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS
The annual meeting of the members of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
will be held at 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 21, 2020, at the headquarters of AOPA, 421
Aviation Way, Frederick, Maryland, 21701, located on Frederick Municipal Airport
(FDK), for the purpose of receiving reports and transacting such other business as
may properly come before the meeting, specifically including the election of trustees. If you are not able to attend, but would like to appoint your voting proxy, please
visit www.aopa.org/myaccount or call 1-800-872-2672.
Justine A. Harrison, Secretary

CONTACT AOPA
ADDRESS CHANGE?

Send your new address and AOPA
membership number to AOPA:
421 Aviation Way
Frederick, Maryland 21701-4798
Fax: 301-695-2375
aopa.org
TOLL-FREE PILOT
INFORMATION CENTER

800-USA-AOPA (872-2672)
pilotassist@aopa.org

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AOPA PERSONAL INSURANCE

AOPA CREDIT CARD PROGRAM

AOPA PILOT PROTECTION SERVICES

800-955-9115
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800-638-3101
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with the best card for pilots.
877-787-3171
aopa.org/creditcard

800-627-5263
aopafinance.com

800-USA-AOPA (872-2672)
aopa.org/membership/personal
800-USA-AOPA (872-2672)
aopa.org/pps
AOPA TRAVEL DISCOUNTS

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AOPA PILOT INFORMATION CENTER HOURS

Do you have questions or need information about an aviation topic? Access the team of aviation experts in our Pilot Information Center
during our convenient weekday hours. Call 800-USA-AOPA (872-2672) Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Eastern time, with
your questions and our staff will be happy to assist you.
Visit the website (aopa.org/membership) to learn about upgrading to our higher levels of membership with Pilot Protection Services
coverage included.
108 | AOPA PILOT March 2020

http://www.aopa.org/pps http://www.aopa.org/myaccount http://www.aopafoundation.org http://www.aopafinance.com http://www.airsafetyinstitute.org http://www.aopa.org/membership/personal http://www.aopa.org http://www.aopa.org/pps http://www.aopa.org/creditcard http://www.aopa.org/cars http://www.aopa.org/hotels http://www.aopa.org/membership

AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - March 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - March 2020