Gotta love this. The Canadian government forces the airlines to subsidize air travel by using the Supreme Court to back the Canadian Transportation Agency's order making extra seating freely available to disabled and obese travellers who require it. The airlines fight back by forcing the passengers to prove they have a medical condition prior to agreeing to sell them a ticket. The CMA doesn't want to get involved although they support the rights of the obese and medically disabled passengers. Ha Ha Ha.CMA pans Air Canada, WestJet policy on obese, disabled flyers
Last Updated: Friday, January 9, 2009 | 5:19 PM ET The Canadian Press
The Canadian Medical Association said Friday it's "disappointed" that Canada's two major airlines have instituted a policy requiring doctors to provide a note to obese and disabled people in order for them to receive special privileges on planes.
The issue of whether an overweight airline passenger can fit comfortably in a single seat is not a medical question, said the organization representing doctors across the country.
The association's president, Dr. Robert Ouellet, said WestJet Airlines and Air Canada did not consult the CMA before instituting the policy.
The airlines announced their new policy Jan. 8 after the Canadian Transportation Agency ordered them to make extra seating freely available to disabled and obese travellers who require it.
In a news release Friday, the CMA said the policy shows "a disregard for the use of scarce medical resources."
Many physicians are already inundated with third-party forms, Ouellet said.
"In as much as the CMA supports the rights of these travellers, we feel that airlines should not try and pass the buck to physicians over what is essentially a business matter," he said.
Airlines reacted to Supreme Court ruling
The Supreme Court of Canada upheld the CTA order in November, and airlines had until Jan. 10 to comply by introducing a "one passenger, one fare" policy.
The new policy applies to passengers who require an attendant to travel with them because of a disability, and to obese or overweight passengers who cannot fit in a single seat.
Air Canada announced this week that these passengers will require "a doctor's certificate of their disability or need for an attendant when travelling, as well as medical approval for travel."
WestJet announced a similar requirement and added: "All medical forms submitted by a guest's physician will be reviewed by WestJet's medical desk nurse. The nurse may contact the guest's physician for more information prior to making a final decision to approve or decline a request."
The medical association said it plans to write to the airlines asking that they "immediately revisit their requirements for doctor's certificates."
My government - get on the ball. If you want to make air travel a right, take responsibility for your decision and subsidize the travel. I'll bet if you do you'll want the passengers to get a doctors note too.
The overwight passengers - take responsibility for your own decision and lifestyle choices in being overweight. Pay for the upgrade to business class if you need the extra room and spare the rest of us.
CMA - if you want to claim obesity is a disease you better show me the research cause I think that`s clap. It`s a personal choice. Tell the patients to get off their duff and exercise if they come to you for a doctors note.