Don’t stigmatise depression after Germanwings crash, says top doctor
President of Royal College of Psychiatrists urges caution over calls for people suffering from depression to be prevented from working as pilots.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/28/germanwings-plane-crash-alps-depression-doctor
Britains most senior psychiatrist has warned airline authorities to avoid a kneejerk reaction to the crash of the Germanwings flight, insisting that depression should not lead to a lifetime ban for commercial airline pilots.
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Professor Simon Wessely, who is president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and an adviser to the British army, urged civil aviation authorities and airlines to avoid repeating the panicked reaction that has often followed similarly shocking cases, such as the crimes of the Manchester GP Dr Harold Shipman.
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I have dealt with some pilots with depression and when they recover they are still monitored. But the two I have dealt with returned to very successful careers. Why should they not? What does cause trouble is saying that if you have ever had a history of depression then you should not be allowed to do whatever. That is wrong, as much as saying that people with a history of broken arms shouldnt be allowed to do something.
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He said: We are all concerned. There are two reasons why: there isnt a link between depression and aggressive suicide, if that is what this is. There isnt normally such a link. And second, because of some of the ridiculous things that are said....(more @ link)