Mental health and EMS
- Thread starter Kjo
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JPINFV
Gadfly
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I've never had an employer ask for my medical records. If you live in a state like California where drivers have to pass a commercial driver level physical exam, the effects of your medication might make it so you can't be certified to drive, which may affect employment.
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The employer may not, but the state might. I know in Washington state, any mental illness is enough to get your EMT license looked at, and they may or may not issue you one.
Considering that at least one state cannot stop somebody seeing a psychiatrist for a mental illness from getting a gun, I somehow doubt the States spend any sort of resource or effort looking for reasons to deny an EMT card.
Probably one of those "after the fact" investigations.
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Vene,
There's a difference between "seeing a psychiatrist" and having a mental defect (to use the term ATF uses regarding firearms purchases). The prohibiting factor is, essentially, that one must be involuntarily committed to a mental institution. (for the full description, look at question 11f here: http://www.atf.gov/forms/download/atf-f-4473-1.pdf).
I don't have that much of an issue with someone who's getting professional help for an anxiety disorder being able to own guns, or work in EMS.
If someone said they wanted to become an EMT so they could crash an ambulance into a bridge abutment and kill themselves and everyone else - well, then they deserve a padded cell next to Hooch's.
To the OP:
This question gets asked here pretty frequently - you aren't the first, and I'm sure you wont be the last, to ask it.
I'm certain that I've worked with MANY folks with some level of psychiatric condition, both diagnosed and undiagnosed. If you're seeing a therapist or psyciatrist, you probably want to talk it over with them, but I see no reason why you can't work in EMS if your other health issues are controlled.
Anjel
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I've been diagnosed with depression and random bits of anxiety.
Never effects my job, never was asked in an interview, or by a physical exam. I don't take meds right know though.
Never effects my job, never was asked in an interview, or by a physical exam. I don't take meds right know though.
I don't have a problem with this either.
Thanks for the link. I did not know that.
But the problem becomes where do you draw the line?
A patient certainly has a right to confidentiality. But Most societies require reporting by a physician if the person makes a threat against another or may pose a serious risk to himself, another, or the public.
It seems like a no brainer for somebody who has anxiety to be able to seek treatment. But there are conditions far more sinister.