who do we complain to about Civil Surgeons

[ojetbone 0]

Do these Clivil Surgeons know what they are doing in regards to PDD testing ? I am from the UK got married to a usc (nice) I did my examination in Feb 09. I had a positive PDD result 20mm according to the doc, I took a X-Ray, the results were negative but my Clivil Surgeons insisted that i needed make appointment at the public health hospital for further evaluation. I have read several articles regarding the technical process for Clivil surgeons in which it state that :

CDC and the American Thoracic Society recommend that foreign-born people in the United States who

are recent arrivals ( within 5 years) from high TB prevalence countries, who have a positive TST

(reaction of 10 mm or greater of induration) and a normal chest radiograph be considered for treatment

of latent TB infection, regardless of age. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/508/cs.txt accessed 03.18.09 ( just in case

any body is interested.

I mean, this all seems like a money making scheme to me and an affective way to test new medication.

[BobGie 0]

Do these Clivil Surgeons know what they are doing in regards to PDD testing ? I am from the UK got married to a usc (nice) I did my examination in Feb 09. I had a positive PDD result 20mm according to the doc, I took a X-Ray, the results were negative but my Clivil Surgeons insisted that i needed make appointment at the public health hospital for further evaluation. I have read several articles regarding the technical process for Clivil surgeons in which it state that :

CDC and the American Thoracic Society recommend that foreign-born people in the United States who

are recent arrivals ( within 5 years) from high TB prevalence countries, who have a positive TST

(reaction of 10 mm or greater of induration) and a normal chest radiograph be considered for treatment

of latent TB infection, regardless of age. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/508/cs.txt accessed 03.18.09 ( just in case

any body is interested.

I mean, this all seems like a money making scheme to me and an affective way to test new medication.

If ppd test results positive(I dont know for sure how many mm is considered negative), even if x-ray result is negative, I believe you are advised and required medication most especially if you have not been through medication in your country of origin with regards to tb. Usually, the US Department of Health assigned the local or public health clinic to do the testing. If you go to a public health clinic, you are not required a payment. They perform the XRAY and PPD test on you and then they will determine if you need medication. They will ask questions like if you have undergone medication or not. If you haven't then they will recommend medication. This is not something to worry, they are just making sure the intended immigrant is not a danger (healthwise) to others.

Just sharing my opinion.

[BobGie 0]

Oh, I forgot to mention that there are civil surgeon who would try to tell you to get the full medical, this is because they want more money. But as you have mention, the CS did ppd test and XRAY and did not tell you should get the full medical/physical exam, is that right?

[Krikit 1,166]

I have almost zero faith in most Civil Surgeons knowing what they are doing. Obviously those of us from countries who have vaccinated against TB are going to test positive for it and that was noted in my vaccination documents at my medical in Canada. Luckily, the Canadian doctors are aware of the UK vaccination requirements so it wasn't a problem either there or here. (I'm originally from the UK.) I imagine you could register a complaint with USCIS somehow, since they are the ones who appoint the civil surgeons.

[ojetbone 0]

Do these Clivil Surgeons know what they are doing in regards to PDD testing ? I am from the UK got married to a usc (nice) I did my examination in Feb 09. I had a positive PDD result 20mm according to the doc, I took a X-Ray, the results were negative but my Clivil Surgeons insisted that i needed make appointment at the public health hospital for further evaluation. I have read several articles regarding the technical process for Clivil surgeons in which it state that :

CDC and the American Thoracic Society recommend that foreign-born people in the United States who

are recent arrivals ( within 5 years) from high TB prevalence countries, who have a positive TST

(reaction of 10 mm or greater of induration) and a normal chest radiograph be considered for treatment

of latent TB infection, regardless of age. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/508/cs.txt accessed 03.18.09 ( just in case

any body is interested.

I mean, this all seems like a money making scheme to me and an affective way to test new medication.

If ppd test results positive(I dont know for sure how many mm is considered negative), even if x-ray result is negative, I believe you are advised and required medication most especially if you have not been through medication in your country of origin with regards to tb. Usually, the US Department of Health assigned the local or public health clinic to do the testing. If you go to a public health clinic, you are not required a payment. They perform the XRAY and PPD test on you and then they will determine if you need medication. They will ask questions like if you have undergone medication or not. If you haven't then they will recommend medication. This is not something to worry, they are just making sure the intended immigrant is not a danger (healthwise) to others.

Just sharing my opinion.

I appreciate your opinion. I would like to clarify that I was born in the UK and therefore was automatically given the BCG vacination. I did explain to the doc that I would be positive. He told me that he had to follow procedures. the thing which has up set me is that according to this article i should have been signed off.

[Krikit 1,166]

I appreciate your opinion. I would like to clarify that I was born in the UK and therefore was automatically given the BCG vacination. I did explain to the doc that I would be positive. He told me that he had to follow procedures. the thing which has up set me is that according to this article i should have been signed off.

I'm pretty sure I saw someone who had the same problem and managed to get around it. Not sure if they went to a new civil surgeon or what happened. Maybe ask in the UK regional forum?

[BobGie 0]

I understand how this upsets you. It affected me the same way in the past. Even to the point that I thought I may be asked to go back where I came from, that scares me a lot.

I mean, I know the one's doing the Visa process the legal way(this means us) have been required to do so many things and required of so many documents, while the illegals are getting all the conveniences that they can get without going through these long medical process.

Like you, most Filipinos get a PPD test positive since we were also given BCG when we were small. But this fact does not stop the health department on requiring from us the medication (if necessary), because even if XRAY result is negative and PPD test is positive, a medication is required for prevention.

I may not be 100 percent correct on this, just trying to share from what I have learned during the process.

[EtherealVocalist 0]

I appreciate your opinion. I would like to clarify that I was born in the UK and therefore was automatically given the BCG vacination. I did explain to the doc that I would be positive. He told me that he had to follow procedures. the thing which has up set me is that according to this article i should have been signed off.

I'm pretty sure I saw someone who had the same problem and managed to get around it. Not sure if they went to a new civil surgeon or what happened. Maybe ask in the UK regional forum?

That was me in the USA, and we ended up going to a different civil surgeon that signed off the papers right there. It's a latent TB case and there is no reason why the CS shouldn't sign the form right on the spot. Although, he did suggest us to go see a pulmonologist to determine if anything else was required, but a latent case of TB is NOT AN ACTIVE TB, so there is no reason why he/she shouldn't release the form. That's ridiculous especially if your skin test comes positive, then go through the trouble to get an X-ray and that turns out to be negative, you are not infectious and that's what they are looking for in my opinon.

the first CS we went to was a BIT*H. She wouldnt help us by suggesting places to get this stupid TB clinic clearance, couldn't speak english, was very rude... She pretty much showed us the door and stole our money, I am still PI$$ED about that! I spent the whole day researching and calling people and nurses. I finally talked to someone at the TB clinic in Nashua in NH USA where I live and she told me that they only see ACTIVE TB patients. they WILL NOT see us is he's (husband ) not infectious and with a negative Xray, there is no reason to go through all these hoops to get clearance. she actually suggested me to seek another CS. I did, and it was all taken care of within 1 hour. AMEN!

Good luck!

[Krikit 1,166]

Ah, yes. That was it! Thanks, EtherealVocalist.

[ojetbone 0]

I appreciate your opinion. I would like to clarify that I was born in the UK and therefore was automatically given the BCG vacination. I did explain to the doc that I would be positive. He told me that he had to follow procedures. the thing which has up set me is that according to this article i should have been signed off.

I'm pretty sure I saw someone who had the same problem and managed to get around it. Not sure if they went to a new civil surgeon or what happened. Maybe ask in the UK regional forum?

That was me in the USA, and we ended up going to a different civil surgeon that signed off the papers right there. It's a latent TB case and there is no reason why the CS shouldn't sign the form right on the spot. Although, he did suggest us to go see a pulmonologist to determine if anything else was required, but a latent case of TB is NOT AN ACTIVE TB, so there is no reason why he/she shouldn't release the form. That's ridiculous especially if your skin test comes positive, then go through the trouble to get an X-ray and that turns out to be negative, you are not infectious and that's what they are looking for in my opinon.

the first CS we went to was a BIT*H. She wouldnt help us by suggesting places to get this stupid TB clinic clearance, couldn't speak english, was very rude... She pretty much showed us the door and stole our money, I am still PI$$ED about that! I spent the whole day researching and calling people and nurses. I finally talked to someone at the TB clinic in Nashua in NH USA where I live and she told me that they only see ACTIVE TB patients. they WILL NOT see us is he's (husband ) not infectious and with a negative Xray, there is no reason to go through all these hoops to get clearance. she actually suggested me to seek another CS. I did, and it was all taken care of within 1 hour. AMEN!

Good luck!

thank you one and all for you marvellous contributions, especially you (EtherealVocalist )I sure that this thead will be of great help for other people in a similar situation but for me unfortunately its too late I have already sent the sealed envelope. which states that i have positive pdd but a negative X-Ray and have been referred to a clinic for evaluation ( some times it can be a real bummer going through this whole immigration process especially when certain thing were un necessary and very expensive.)

[neel06 0]

Hello.

HAVE YOU HAD THE BCG VACCINE(TB VACCINE)? WELL IF YOU DID THAT WILL MAKE THE PPD RESULTS POSITIVE. My husband's ppd came in positive but the civil surgeon understood that many countries like India, England, China administer the BCG vaccine which gives a FALSE positive. LOOK INTO THAT

GOOD LUCK

[ojetbone 0]

Hello.

HAVE YOU HAD THE BCG VACCINE(TB VACCINE)? WELL IF YOU DID THAT WILL MAKE THE PPD RESULTS POSITIVE. My husband's ppd came in positive but the civil surgeon understood that many countries like India, England, China administer the BCG vaccine which gives a FALSE positive. LOOK INTO THAT

GOOD LUCK

That my all point ,one government vaccinated you (BCG) in order for you to be immune from TB, the other government said we don't vaccinate our citizens therefore we have to give some experiment drugs in order for you to stay because of your vaccination ( to me this is border line madness and should be revised in my opinion ) I mean if my X- ray was positive you could understand. (dam) I might even take the drugs.

Any way, good luck to all those who are yet to encounter this problem and remember try and research and educate your civil surgeon about your own results . As they said: knowledge is power

[Brit Abroad 166]

Hello.

HAVE YOU HAD THE BCG VACCINE(TB VACCINE)? WELL IF YOU DID THAT WILL MAKE THE PPD RESULTS POSITIVE. My husband's ppd came in positive but the civil surgeon understood that many countries like India, England, China administer the BCG vaccine which gives a FALSE positive. LOOK INTO THAT

GOOD LUCK

That my all point ,one government vaccinated you (BCG) in order for you to be immune from TB, the other government said we don't vaccinate our citizens therefore we have to give some experiment drugs in order for you to stay because of your vaccination ( to me this is border line madness and should be revised in my opinion ) I mean if my X- ray was positive you could understand. (dam) I might even take the drugs.

Any way, good luck to all those who are yet to encounter this problem and remember try and research and educate your civil surgeon about your own results . As they said: knowledge is power

I also had the BCG as a schoolgirl in England, and fully expected my TST to come back with a positive. I explained to the Army medic doing my test that I'd been vaccinated and he noted it on the form along with the actual measurement and clarified it as a negative result. I simply took this record to the Civil Surgeon and he signed it off without even asking a single question.

Moral of the story: Find a doctor to do your testing, get the Civil Surgeon to sign off on someone else's work. It seems that many Civil Surgeons are a bunch of greedy know-it-alls who are largely incapable of reading up on the requirements of their position. It's a pity that USCIS doesn't have a feedback facility as part of the immigration medical process.

[Angela & Paul 12]

Every day I read comments from VJ'ers who have been defrauded by CS.

I looked on the USCIS web site if there was such a place to file grievances against local CS, but couldn't find anything.

I was thinking about writing to my Senator, or even the president since we're talking about a federal system.

Any suggestions?

I do think that if all of us start making some noise about the issue, they might fix it. And the issue is that there is no accountability whatsoever!