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@w2up.wells.com (Barry Kutner) Fri Jun 7 22:41:28 1996
From: barry@w2up.wells.com (Barry Kutner) (Barry Kutner)
Subject: Waivers
Message-ID: <TB86oD2w165w@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@w2up.wells.com
Newtown, PA Packet Radio: W2UP @ WB3JOE.#EPA.PA.USA.NA
Packet Cluster: W2UP >WB2R (FRC)
.......................................................................
>From k7fd@teleport.com (John Nicholson) Sat Jun 8 00:51:50 1996
From: k7fd@teleport.com (John Nicholson) (John Nicholson)
Subject: FRAUDULENT MEDICAL CERTIFICATION
Message-ID: <199606072351.QAA17236@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
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