FRAUDULENT MEDICAL CERTIFICATION

[Douglas L. Klein]

Dale Gaudier wrote:
> 
> The first medical exemption certificate I was ever presented with as a VE
> was from a "good ole boy" in Georgia who claimed exemption from the 13 wpm
> CW requirement on the grounds of his colostomy!
> 
> As an ARRL VE, I was required to process his application (as I recall, he
> failed his written), but I did put a note on the application papers when I
> shipped them off to the ARRL VEC.
> 
> Whenever I tune through 75 meters I always wonder if he managed to get his
> upgrade.
> 
> 73 de Dale - N4REE/1
> 
> Dale Gaudier - N4REE/1 Darien, CT

what does any of this thread have to do with contesting?


>From barry at w2up.wells.com (Barry Kutner)  Fri Jun  7 22:41:28 1996
From: barry at w2up.wells.com (Barry Kutner) (Barry Kutner)
Date: Fri, 07 Jun 96 21:41:28 GMT
Subject: Waivers
Message-ID: <TB86oD2w165w at w2up.wells.com>

The following is a copy of a letter I sent to ARRL recently. If you feel 
like I do, send a note to your ARRL director and/or QST.
(I apologize in advance if this is a dupe, been having some mail trouble 
lately...)

> Dear Editor:
> 
> I read with interest Dave Sumner's "FCC Enforcement: Glimmers of Hope" in
> QST for June 1996.  The following has recently come to my attention, but
> there are no such glimmers:
> 
> I saw a fellow ham as a patient in my office and we got on the subject of
> the volunteer licensing program.  We talked about some of the abuses
> brought to light in QST from time to time.  We also discussed the medical
> waivers which he sees, as a volunteer examiner himself.  As examples, he
> mentioned two local hams, both Amateur Extras.  Both were given medical
> waivers for the CW requirement on the basis of hearing loss.  Although I
> have not examined them, I know both these hams personally, and have
> QSOed with them on 2 meters as well as in person. Neither one has hearing
> difficulty which prevents them from carrying on conversation at NORMAL
> voice levels. Therefore, neither should have difficulty hearing CW.
> 
> It is my understanding that any physician may sign such a waiver.
> Unfortunately, most physicians are burdened with a great degree of
> paperwork.  Most physicians also want to help their patients.  Signing
> such an "inconsequential" waiver for a testing process that they do not
> understand is very easy to do.
> 
> I propose that the ARRL seek to add integrity to the waiver process. One
> possibility is that all waivers must be approved by physicians who are
> hams themselves.  A ham physician is certainly cognizant of the examination
> process and the degree of disability required for a waiver.  In cases
> where extreme distance makes personal examination too much of a hardship,
> a ham physician can approve or disapprove the proposed waiver of
> another physician based on a medical report.  Another possibility is to
> certify physicians for amateur radio licensing in the same way physicians
> are certified to perform medical examinations for pilots.
> 
> Sincerely,
> Barry N. Kutner, M.D., W2UP
> 


--

Barry N. Kutner, W2UP       Internet: barry at w2up.wells.com
Newtown, PA                 Packet Radio: W2UP @ WB3JOE.#EPA.PA.USA.NA
                            Packet Cluster: W2UP >WB2R (FRC)
.......................................................................


>From k7fd at teleport.com (John Nicholson)  Sat Jun  8 00:51:50 1996
From: k7fd at teleport.com (John Nicholson) (John Nicholson)
Date: Fri, 7 Jun 1996 16:51:50 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: FRAUDULENT MEDICAL CERTIFICATION
Message-ID: <199606072351.QAA17236 at desiree.teleport.com>

>Dale Gaudier wrote:
>> 
>> The first medical exemption certificate I was ever presented with as a VE
>> was from a "good ole boy" in Georgia who claimed exemption from the 13 wpm
>> CW requirement on the grounds of his colostomy!
>> 
>> As an ARRL VE, I was required to process his application (as I recall, he
>> failed his written), but I did put a note on the application papers when I
>> shipped them off to the ARRL VEC.
>> 
>> Whenever I tune through 75 meters I always wonder if he managed to get his
>> upgrade.
>> 
>> 73 de Dale - N4REE/1
>> 
>> Dale Gaudier - N4REE/1 Darien, CT

WD8AUB offered:

>what does any of this thread have to do with contesting?

        As a contester, I am concerned with the infusion of deadbeats into
        the hobby. If it continues, then this avocation of ours is in
        jeopardy. I'm not into taking up knitting so I think a discussion of
        this within our ranks is justified -- raise the awareness level
        high enough, and maybe something positive will come out of it. 

        No Code licenses (honest Med Exemptions aside) are candy-ass to begin
        with -- and now we have people cheating to get them! The original
        intent of the Med Exemption is honorable and I believe justified.
        But like everything else, some people just have to abuse it, right?

        Take a listen to your local repeater and tell me if what you hear
        inspired you to take up contesting; it's not inspiring -- it's
        embarrassing! 

        73, John K7FD