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The DAME Clinical Practice Guidelines (the Guidelines) provide a source of guidance to DAMEs. The Guidelines describe CASA’s expectations about how certain medical issues or matters are to be approached and examined by the DAME.
The information provided in the Guidelines is generic and indicative only. However, subject to this limitation, a DAME delegate must reasonably follow the Guidelines and take them into account in assessing an application (his or her decision-making for the issue of Class 2 medical certificates.)
The Guidelines are organised with a separate medical condition on each page and the initial view is alphabetical.
Each Guideline provides DAMEs with advice on clinical matters and the range of information to be considered by the DAME about the particular medical condition and how it is best approached to enable timely and effective decision making. Also provided are sections on indicative outcomes and information that can be useful for the applicant to know.
Before making a medical assessment of an applicant, the DAME must first consider? all of the information listed or described in the Guidelines that is applicable to any medical conditions that are apparent or disclosed before or during the medical examination.
Subject to paragraph 12.6.1 (f) Procedure for a DAME to issue a Class 2 medical certificate, if, following a medical examination of the applicant, the DAME’s assessment is consistent with the guidance contained in the Guidelines, the DAME may proceed to issue a Class 2 Medical Certificate.
If following a medical examination of the applicant, the DAME’s assessment is inconsistent with the guidance contained in the Guidelines, the DAME must refer the case to CASA for assessment. In such circumstances, the DAME may provide CASA with reasons why, in his or her opinion, and taking into account all relevant information, a departure from the Guidelines is justified in the particular case. However, although such an opinion may be expressed, the DAME must, nevertheless, refer the case to CASA for assessment.
Where the Guidelines are silent on a medical condition affecting a particular applicant, the DAME may make a decision based on the best medical knowledge and evidence available to the medical profession at the time.