Why no doctor notes?

[ttintagel]

In addition to all the great, helpful, pertinent information given above:

Theme park CM's don't know enough about medicine for a doctor's note to be useful, and

Doctors don't know enough about theme park operations to make a note useful.

 

[Simba's Mom]

1) I don't believe anyone would do such.
3) People are just too honest.
3) My doctor's note says

To Whom It May Concern;
Although it does not show and others cannot detect it, TheRustyScupper has a serious disease and MUST have immediate access to all rides, Meet-and-Greets, restaurants (with or without a reservation), and be granted front-row access to all parades and shows. Please accommodate him and him 12-member family. As a further point, do not question him or his party about the nature of his malady, as it could inflame him and/or the disease. Signed: Dr. Oz (the one behind the curtain, not the one on TV)​

I think I've seen that letter before. It seems that about a dozen people around here have that exact same letter. Gee, what a coincidence!

 

[delilah]

1) I don't believe anyone would do such.
3) People are just too honest.
3) My doctor's note says

To Whom It May Concern;
Although it does not show and others cannot detect it, TheRustyScupper has a serious disease and MUST have immediate access to all rides, Meet-and-Greets, restaurants (with or without a reservation), and be granted front-row access to all parades and shows. Please accommodate him and him 12-member family. As a further point, do not question him or his party about the nature of his malady, as it could inflame him and/or the disease. Signed: Dr. Oz (the one behind the curtain, not the one on TV)​

I am hope this is a joke. I am a physician, and once a patient designed a prescription form for one of the other doctors in our practice on their home computer and tried to use it at the pharmacy. Two problems for the patient resulted. We have 7 doctors in our practice, and there is identifying information for all of us on them. We don't have individual doctor pads. The second is that the particular type of med he was trying to get has to go onto a pad made of a special type of paper. Well, I guess the would be patient actually had three problems, because I think, ultimately he spent some time in jail. Well, four, because he had to find another doctor.

Contrary to an earlier statement, it is actually quite easy to verify whether a particular doctor exists and where their practice is located. The AMA has such a site, and so does my specialty board.

 

[Gracie09]

I am hope this is a joke. I am a physician, and once a patient designed a prescription form for one of the other doctors in our practice on their home computer and tried to use it at the pharmacy. Two problems for the patient resulted. We have 7 doctors in our practice, and there is identifying information for all of us on them. We don't have individual doctor pads. The second is that the particular type of med he was trying to get has to go onto a pad made of a special type of paper. Well, I guess the would be patient actually had three problems, because I think, ultimately he spent some time in jail. Well, four, because he had to find another doctor.

Contrary to an earlier statement, it is actually quite easy to verify whether a particular doctor exists and where their practice is located. The AMA has such a site, and so does my specialty board.

While it may be true for a pharmacist or other medical profession that it is easy to verify if a note is from a doctor, a theme park worker does not necessarily have access to the same websites, the knowledge of how to find them or honestly even the time to search for the information. It is a moot point though because the Ada has said no proof can be required and Disney has decided not to look at notes provided. Although give me twenty minutes and a computer I can probably create a convincing letter from a doctor asking for front of line access for my patient. It's fairly easy and doesn't have to be on a prescription pad.

 

[aaarcher86]

It's super easy to make up a doctor note. I had a note from a doctor that I scanned that I'd just change the date on and re use to skip school all the time. It's probably easier now, 11 years later.

Regardless, it'd essentially require a department strictly for verifying documentation that I assume people would only be willing to send in early. I can't imagine people readily accepting the GR line becoming even longer or waiting 20 minutes to have their letter verified when they bring the note in person. Pharmacies are in the medical profession - they're supposed to be able to easily verify this stuff. A theme park? No.

 

[SirDuff]

Contrary to an earlier statement, it is actually quite easy to verify whether a particular doctor exists and where their practice is located. The AMA has such a site, and so does my specialty board.

Not all visitors are from the US. I wouldn't be found on the AMA site, but I am a valid/qualified medical doctor (just happen to be Canadian).

Even for those from the US, I could easily find enough information (from a previous note or using the aforementioned AMA site) to put enough information on a fake note to "pass".

Not the mention the huge amount of time and resources it would take.

 

[SueM in MN]

While it may be true for a pharmacist or other medical profession that it is easy to verify if a note is from a doctor, a theme park worker does not necessarily have access to the same websites, the knowledge of how to find them or honestly even the time to search for the information. It is a moot point though because the Ada has said no proof can be required and Disney has decided not to look at notes provided. Although give me twenty minutes and a computer I can probably create a convincing letter from a doctor asking for front of line access for my patient. It's fairly easy and doesn't have to be on a prescription pad.

Regarding the bolded - yes, given some time to look and access to the websites, someone could verify the name of a doctor and the address of their practice.
I can find that out without any special websites - just by knowing the name of a clinic near me, I can find out the names of doctors who work there.

But, that just says the doctor exists, not that the doctor wrote the note.
And, even if it would be a legitimate note from a legitimate doctor, what is being asked for may not be something Disney can offer. The note that TheRustyScupper shared is a spoof, but there were websites with similar letter 'templates' to take to your own doctor and have them sign.
I've been behind people at Guest Relations who had one of those template letters, people with a note on a prescription pad and someone with a 3 page letter that sounded like a hospital discharge summary.
All of those people had notes that said they needed "expedited access and to access all attractions without waiting." None of them could explain their needs when asked and just got mad because, "I need this. That's what my doctor wrote". Several also had the doctor's phone number to call.
It would be very time consuming for Disney to verify all of that - much less explain to the doctor who wrote the letter that what he/she ordered is not available.

 

[Missyrose]

I am hope this is a joke. I am a physician, and once a patient designed a prescription form for one of the other doctors in our practice on their home computer and tried to use it at the pharmacy. Two problems for the patient resulted. We have 7 doctors in our practice, and there is identifying information for all of us on them. We don't have individual doctor pads. The second is that the particular type of med he was trying to get has to go onto a pad made of a special type of paper. Well, I guess the would be patient actually had three problems, because I think, ultimately he spent some time in jail. Well, four, because he had to find another doctor. Contrary to an earlier statement, it is actually quite easy to verify whether a particular doctor exists and where their practice is located. The AMA has such a site, and so does my specialty board.

You can't really expect a 19-year-old Disney College Program cast member to starting searching an AMA Website to confirm a doctor's name, especially with a line of other guests waiting to be helped. And here's the bigger problem, most doctors' notes likely would focus on explaining the diagnosis, which does a guest relations cast member little good. The person requesting the DAS needs to be able to explain (either verbally or by preparing their own note ahead of time) what their needs are, what accommodations they need, NOT their diagnosis. Disney isn't requiring proof of disability (because, legally, they can't), so all Disney needs is for the person requesting the DAS to explain what they need.

 

[scarlet_ibis]

I don't see why a doctor's note is less credible than a person standing there claiming a disability that isn't necessarily visible. (The ADA requirement, I understand...)

 

[Gracie09]

Ok my dd has mild cp and a heterotrophic brain. If her neurologist were to write a note it would say something like dd has cp and heterotopia of the brain. Please off her any courtesy while she is at wdw.
What does that tell anyone? With out googling do you know what a heterotrophic brain is and what courtesy she may need? Cp has a spectrum. My child can walk, run, play sports etx but another may be confined to a wheelchair. Where are the spectrum is a particular person?

I could also spend 20 minutes and create a good looking doctors note complete with dea number and letterhead that's days whatever I want it to say.

 

[Schmeck]

I don't see why a doctor's note is less credible than a person standing there claiming a disability that isn't necessarily visible. (The ADA requirement, I understand...)

The doctor usually has no idea what is going on in the parks and what would be useful for an accommodation. There were so many 'let my patient go straight to the front of the line' type of doctor notes that were not accepted at WDW in the past (like decades) that they are really not useful for the CMs at all. When those 'prescriptions' for FOTL access were denied, guests got very pissed off.

 

[SueM in MN]

The doctor usually has no idea what is going on in the parks and what would be useful for an accommodation. There were so many 'let my patient go straight to the front of the line' type of doctor notes that were not accepted at WDW in the past (like decades) that they are really not useful for the CMs at all. When those 'prescriptions' for FOTL access were denied, guests got very pissed off.

And that's putting it mildly.

The ADA says accommodation is given for needs related to disabilities.
As Gracie09 mentioned in her post, conditions are on a spectrum. To use her example, CP, some people with CP have limitations and disabilies related to their CP. Some have none at all. So, to just say someone has CP is not helpful - it doesn't tell anything and doesn't tell which people need accommodations.

The ADA also doesn't require doctors notes to get accommodation for other reasons - what about the people who would need to make an appointment just to get the letter. That would not be a medically necessary visit. It uses up resources and probably would not be paid for by insurance because there is no medical necessity. So, that makes extra cost and extra bother for the person.
And, some people might say, "but my doctor would not charge for the letter!"
All I can say is that the doctor would be able to and many DID charge for writing one in the early days of this forum - when people were routinely taking doctor letters because they thought they had to have one.

 

[bidnow5]

For me the Doctor that would have to write a note would be one of my specialists and it would cost me a $45 co-pay then the note most likely wouldn't help the best way to describe him is a mad professor his note would be very long very detailed but would have nothing to do with my needs

 

[scarlet_ibis]

What I'm saying is that if a person is willing to go through the effort of creating a realistic-looking doctor's letter, they are surely more than willing to lie straight up to the cast member face to face.

 

[SirDuff]

What I'm saying is that if a person is willing to go through the effort of creating a realistic-looking doctor's letter, they are surely more than willing to lie straight up to the cast member face to face.

Most of the time when people (on the DIS and other forums) bring up the idea of a doctor's note, they bring it up in relation to getting "more" than the DAS/GAC offers. They will argue (for example) that WDW should give FOTL access with a doctor's note. Lying when asking for a DAS will still not get you FOTL.

Do people lie to get a DAS? I'm sure that they do. Doesn't really have any bearing on whether or not doctor's notes should be used. The arguments against doctor's notes go beyond the fact that they can be forged.

 

[aaarcher86]

What I'm saying is that if a person is willing to go through the effort of creating a realistic-looking doctor's letter, they are surely more than willing to lie straight up to the cast member face to face.

There will always be crappy people who lie to get something they aren't entitled to.

In the end it'll just cause Disney to tighten things up, affecting everyone.

 

[SueM in MN]

This subject has been discussed many times and is not going anywhere, so I sm going to close it.

The ADA does not allow requiring documentation or proof in order to get accommodations for a disability.
The reason is that doing so could prevent someone from getting accommodation they need just because they did not jump thru the correct hoops.

Encouraging and/or allowing people to bring doctor notes could quickly develop into a situation where people think one is required or will 'get' them more.

Disney has said on their page about DAS that they do not require/want doctor notes or other proof