Medical History Question

LegacyUser

Hi,

Looking for peoples help with the following;

I have a medical forthcoming for a career that I have always wanted to do and am finally on the brink of achieving. Part of the medical process involves filling out a medical history record and having my GP sign off on it. Problem is that about 4 years ago, I suffered a short spell of depression (brought on by the sudden death of my father) Went to the GP at the time, prescribed me medication and gave me a referral letter to psychiatrist. Started the meds (did not finish due to side effcets) and had a meeting with shrink. He referred a counsellor and after a few meetings with counsellor felt a whole lot better and that was that.
However I am worried now that this is going to put my application in serious risk and will result in my application failing. Thankfully enough I am a very rare visitor to the doctors so this would be the only record the gp would have on the system. (previous gp retired but he didnt really keep records anyway) I am contemplating going to different gp's in the area, explaining that I havent been to a gp in ages (fiancee is a nurse anyway so any flu's etc she has always treated) and that I need the form signed in order that I am returning a clean form as opposed to one with the 'previous' on it.
I would appreciate any help or advice on the matter as im over a barrel at the minute with time running out.

Thanks

AnonoBoy

Go to a new doctor. Tell him all physical previous conditions you have had or suffered from.

Don't mention the anti-anxiety/anti-depressants.

Get him to check you out and sign off and enjoy your new job.

People lie about much much worse things to get jobs. Think of it as an ommission rather than a lie.

It isn't worth risking your application on how educated and understanding the interviewer is with regards to depression.
If you talk to your own GP, I'd say it is likely he would omit the information anyway.

not yet

May be wrong but I think mental health does not have to be part of the medical etc etc,why not chat to your doc, I'm sure he would know the pressure you were under at the time,I really wouldn't worry about it it'll be fine.

Nevyn

Promoting fraud or any illegal act will not be condoned on this forum.

Drummerboy2

Don't thing it should count against you. Most people suffer some sort of depression after a bereavement. However I wouldn’t flag it to your new employers.

not yet

Thaedydal wrote: »

Promoting fraud or any illegal act will not be condoned on this forum.

What the .... is this.....

Promoting fraud!!! sweet jesus this has to be a joke. the guy was given some decent advice, I dont see were the " fraud" is so maybe you can enlighten me, PLEASE.

AMK

You could go to your doctor and let him write out your medical history. That way the onus is on him to decide what to put in or not. If it is not to your liking, you could try going to a new doctor as suggested in other posts. I know this kind of thing is not meant to be held against people but in the real world it is. Look at post-natal depression. Women are told all the time to seek help but if they do and subsequently take out a mortgage the life assurance policy has an additional payment because they are considered to be 'at risk'. Likewise with employment, particularly if there are a couple of good candidates applying. Something like this can be used as an eliminator. Be careful. Best of luck

dudara

I think that the company will be looking for evidence of your physical health, not mental. i.e. have you had back injuries in the past, any evidence of heart disease in the family etc?

I've never heard of a medical involving mental health.

Pol Pot

the company may ask the gp to sign the form but Pol Pot is sure that under confidentiality the GP may not disclose anything you do not wish to be disclosed

Talk to your GP and they will omit the depression.

It goes to show that medicals are a joke but for some facade companies insist on doing them.

For example : Pol pot was previously asked "have you ever had or been tested for an STI"
Pol Pot never had an STI but has had 5 screenings over the past 12 years.
However Pol Pot knew it was prudent to say "negative captain" on that one.
The GP report is just an extension of this economy with the truth.

However Pol Pot is confused that the company is asking YOUR GP to do this rather than one nominated by THE COMPANY.

Sincho

It really annoys me that in bloody 2009 people still feel like they have to keeep a medical condition secret. I've suffered quite a bit from depression in the past and recently in a college interview I was asked about a 2 year gap in my education. I got ill with glandular fever in school and had to take 6 months off school but after this I went through a very bad dose of depression and took a further 2 years before I was well enough to return. In this interview I felt I had no choice to extend the illness from 6months to 2 and a half years which is ridiculous as having depression is nothing to be ashamed of and something most of us will experience at certain times in our lives. I doubt that having depression would affect anything but I wouldn't advice you to disclose it as theres still alot of people in this country that are incredibly ignorant.

4Xcut

If the job you are applying to are requiring a medical, I assume that they need to know that you are in good health for some reason(I dunno, maybe you're applying to be a pilot or something).

If this is the case then, it may also be important that they are fully aware of your mental state. I would not claim to know a lot about depression but do believe that it is a very real condition and can be quite serious. It should not come into most jobs but it may be the case that other peoples lives may rest on you being a particular type of person mentally.

You are over it now but the fact that you were a sufferer of it for a brief while may mean that you have a higher propensity towards it than others, then again it may not.

Perhaps include all of the medical history but a cionsultation note from the conscellour saying that you are over it or something to that effect.

Bottom line good look with the application but if it's something where other people are at stake such as a pilot, I'd like to know that the person I was putting in charge of my personal safety was completely honest in the entire application procedure.

What the .... is this.....

Promoting fraud!!! sweet jesus this has to be a joke. the guy was given some decent advice, I dont see were the " fraud" is so maybe you can enlighten me, PLEASE.

People were advising him to openly lie about a professionally diagnosed temporary mental illness which he was on medication for, medication which he had to stop taking due to side-effects. That is how it was fraud.

LegacyUser

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Go to a new doctor. Tell him all physical previous conditions you have had or suffered from.

Don't mention the anti-anxiety/anti-depressants.

Get him to check you out and sign off and enjoy your new job.

People lie about much much worse things to get jobs. Think of it as an ommission rather than a lie.

Thanks for the advice. Got signed off by a different GP. Appreciated all the advice.