Despite my age I was very disappointed that CASA did not accept the result of my Class 2 Medical examination by the DAME. I have to accept that CASA is the final arbiter. Reading some of the posts on this thread makes me wonder "How would those who advocate lying about a condition they believe could lead to losing their medical feel if one of their peers was responsible for the death of one of their family members, as a result of not being truthful"?
It is easy to be a "rebel" on an anonymous forum. I would hope that the situation might be different in real life.
Not that I want to get into an argument with this, but I think the situation of people lying to their DAME is CASA's own doing. I have been lurking here for quite some time (look at my join date) and have seen all the CASA bashing statements coming from everyone. Up until 2 weeks ago I though they were all a bunch whiners with nothing better to do, hey I was just a PPL who never had any issues with CASA so what was everyone's problem. Then I got my letter, then I did some research, now I am scared! Scared that they are going to take away the thing I love doing the most (with my clothes on atleast) all because I was too honest (and judging by the comments here, an obvious stand out as I'm the only pilot that drinks). Now I can understand CASA's concern, hell I don't want to share the circuit with someone who has that much of a drinking problem they cant abstain for a day to go flying. But the problem is CASA don't approach these cases in a rational manner.
An innocent response can trigger the sort of over reaction that the CASA medical branch is increasingly becoming well known for.
or
Avmed are a law unto themselves and have been known to disregard leading SPECIALIST advice regarding pilot health risks.
These are statements said in this thread.
Now I am in the situation of having to play my cards just right to prove (read, satisfy) to CASA that I do not have an alcohol abuse problem (something any DAME would be able to determine if required, with a couple of visits and urine or blood tests, and without the heart ache). If I stuff this up its going to be months of aggravation dealing with CASA, why would anyone want to do that if it could be avoided by one single word, NO instead of YES, especially those who make a living from flying.
So, as Creampuff said, I beleive CASA are "...doing more damage than good..."