If you are an injured or a sick seaman and you are not granted a doctor or hospital visit, do not sign off the vessel! If you do, you will lose your short term disability rights! We at Vujasinovic & Beckcom PLCC hear firsthand accounts from mariners who inform us that some captains have told them to see their own doctor when they request medical assistance at the end of their tour. In other words, sign the discharge first, then go home and get a diagnosis on your own. Note: A captain cannot refuse to send a crew member to a doctor of their own choosing, even a specialist, if requested. It’s a catch-22: a) the company tells the employee not to worry about seeing a doctor before signing off Articles, only to b) later acknowledge it as an occupational illness or injury, c) but not to pay short term disability because said employee signed off as Fit for Duty since they did not see a doctor and get pronounced Not Fit for Duty. Then the employee is on paid leave recuperating from an illness or injury.
Follow the logic? Industry insiders say this is a cost saving measure for companies as well as a method of controlling lost time incidents which can negatively impact the Variable Cash Incentive Program (VCIP) bonus. Again, demand to see a doctor first before signing off Articles.
We at V&B have a number of free consumer reports at your disposal including “Protecting Your Future: How to Find Out What the Company Really Thinks About Your Maritime Injury.” Order it free here
Category: Medical Treatment Problems
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