problems on the job

[fittofly]

Hi,

I'd be interested to hear from people who've suffered disadvantages in their careers due to their cutting, especially people who have been failed in medical or psychological fitness exams (military, flight, social etc.).

I lost my job as a flight attendant last year, as I failed an aeromedical exam. At the initial exam, I told the doctor that I had been self-injuring (since they would see my scars anyway), and I was referred to an additional psychiatric exam. And although this exam did not lead to a positive diagnosis of an actual disorder, I was found 'unfit to fly'. I was not given a proper reason, the doctor just mumbled something on "Well, that kind of behaviour just is kind of pathological...", "Anything along the lines of suicidal behaviour is a definite no-no for us - and that's what this is after all" (sure, if I wanted to kill myself, I'd cut the skin of my thighs.... how stupid do they think I am?!), "Cutting may be a sign of borderline disorder" (that's what I had thought the point of the psychiatric exam was - to check for potential disorders?). The whole process was completely iillogical: At first I was made to go through a whole lengthy and unpleasant psych exam process, then after all my initial problem was considered severe enough to disqualify me without further question. The weirdest thing is that the psychiatrist had wanted to do another test before coming to a result, which never happened, because before I could get an appointment I got the news of the 'unfit-to-fly' verdict. So, basically, they failed me for the reason that "a personality disorder could not be absolutely ruled out" - before they had even completed the exam procedure!

The whole thing was also completely horrible and traumatic - not least because the doctors treated me with utter hostility once they had heard of my cutting. I've never experienced anything like it. I always used to think that people who describe doctors being prejudiced against cutters are just exaggerating - but this is exactly what happened to me.

I've now been unemployed for a year. I still cannot accept that I am unfit to fly, so I've been applying with other airlines. But I'm terribly scared of the medical exam now, of course. I'm NOT insane, I just happened to have cut myself for a while. The logic seems to be that people who cut themselves also blow up airplanes. Very professional logic, that is!

[Spidey]

Is there a sort of appeal process that you could go through? There has to be - it sounds like you weren't even given a fair assessment.

[green]

ugh that really doesn't sound fair at all... maybe there is a way to appeal against their decision? or perhaps another airline wouldn't be so prejudice in their assessments? I mean at the very least they should give you a fair assessment! I really don't know that much about airlines and restrictions on who they can employ etc. though. I hope you can sort it out.


And welcome to the board, by the way

[fittofly]

Thanks! I've been pondering that too, but I think to tell you the truth there is little one can do. There might have been if I had been fired as a result, the thing is that I was changing employers at the time (unfortunately I had already resigned from my previous employer - who, incidently, also gave me a psychiatric exam when I first joined there which I PASSED!), so the new airline hadn't given me a contract yet. And the aviation medical examiners are quite autonomous in their specialist status - even if another doctor finds me okay and gives me a certificate to that end, they might still say that the decision remains up to them. Nor are they required to argue their case - they just tell the HR department that I'm found 'unfit', and then the company CANNOT hire me.

So, basically, I cannot appeal directly to the medical department because of their specialist status, and I cannot appeal to the company at large because they just are dependent on the medical department's verdict.

The criteria for fitness to fly should actually be the same at all airlines, but apparently decisions vary. The criteria as such are put very vaguely. Regarding mental health, it just says that a reason for exclusion is "psychological disorder with disease status". So, what does that mean please? Then there's that thing about suicidal behaviour. If the doctors decide for some reason that SI is suicidal (which is absurd, but what can you do), then that's a disqualifying criterium.

I'm afraid all I can do is keep trying. I'm sure I don't think I have to tell you how ANGRY I am at all this prejudiced treatment, and that now I'm pretty scared of new exams. That's why I was wondering if anyone else has been through similar situations?

[katja]

I'm an artist so I dont think I'll ever have that problem.
I can see the logic in it because air stewardesses are kind of stereotypically pretty and perfect, I guess cutting breaks that. No reason to sack you though, I really think you should appeal about this. My doctor would never do anything like that to me.

[fittofly]

No, it wasn't anything to do with looks (the cuts are on my thighs and not visible in uniform anyway). It was to do with security and mental health. The reasoning was that if you cut, you're nuts - if not quite in those words.

I've got a job offer with another company now, and I'm gonna go for it and try. I dread the idea of going through another psych exam - those things are really humiliating and personal, yuck!

The thing is, you always have to undress for the medical. And anyone can tell from my scars that they're self-inflicted - they just don't look like accidental injuries. So I have no other option than to let on.