Q: Since my last medical in 2004, I have had many doctor visits, none involving major medical conditions. Do I need to list every medical visit since 2004 or is there a statute of limitations? What if I forget one and fail to list it?
A: The medical application—which, as of October 1, is only accepted as an online application using MedXpress—is a document that almost every pilot fills out, over and over again, and each time, it requires our careful attention in answering the questions. Failure to pay that careful attention could lead to a loss of the ability to fly.
As it relates to what to report, there are at least two questions on the medical application that merit attention:
First, question 18, Medical History, asks, “Have you ever in your life been diagnosed with, had or do you presently have any of the following?” If any of your doctor visits since 2004 involve any of the conditions listed in the application, you will have to provide a “yes” response and an explanation. There is no “statute of limitations” on what must be disclosed since the language of the question is meant to make clear that it pertains to any of the conditions or circumstances listed that have ever happened in your life, without regard to a time limitation. And, any “yes” answers must continue to be given on future applications. Just because you answer “yes” once does not relieve you of making sure to answer “yes” over and over again, though on subsequent applications you do not need to repeat the details and may simply state “previously reported.”
Second, question 19, “Visits to Health Professional Within the Last 3 Years,” does limit any response to the three years preceding your application for medical certification. Therefore, you should list all your visits to a health professional within the previous three years, with the exception that visits for counseling need only be listed if related to personal substance abuse or a psychiatric condition—and you do not need to list routine dental, eye, and FAA periodic medical examinations or consultations with your employer-sponsored employee assistance program unless for substance abuse or if it resulted in a referral for psychiatric evaluation or treatment.
When you submit your medical application, you sign it at the bottom, signifying that you “hereby certify that all statements and answers provided by me on this application are complete and true to the best of my knowledge.” If your answers are not true and complete, to the best of your knowledge, the FAA will view your answers as intentionally false, which will prompt the FAA to take action to immediately revoke all of your airman certificates; not just your medical certificate but your pilot certificate as well. Carefully consider the questions posed on the medical application and fully and fairly answer those questions.
To learn more about AOPA Pilot Protection Services, please visit the website.
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