Henry Samuel, The Telegraph, Apr. 2, 2015
Andreas Lubitz, the rogue pilot who brought down a plane in the French Alps last week, lied to doctors by telling them he was on sick leave when he was still flying commercial airliners, according to German reports.
The 27-year-old who locked his captain out of their Germanwings Airbus A320 and slammed the plane into the Alps last Tuesday, killing 150, was on medication so strong that patients are advised not to drive a car, let alone fly a commercial plane, according to Bild, the German daily.
Side effects also include an increased risk of suicide.
Lubitz had sought medical attention to try to cure an eye condition, the paper reported.
Though he gave doctors information about his job as a pilot, and in some cases about his employer, he deliberately hid the fact that he was still working, Bild said, citing sources close to the investigation.
Documents also reportedly revealed that Lubitz recounted being involved in a car crash at the end of 2014 in which he suffered injuries when his airbag opened. Since the accident, he had complained of trauma and impaired hearing and vision.
“He stated during medical treatment that, among other things, it often appeared dark around him,” Bild wrote.
He underwent an MRI scan on his brain, but no significant damage was found.
According to medical records, Lubitz said he was taking medicines to treat depression, anxiety disorders, and panic attacks, the paper said, adding the drugs were an antidepressant and the tranquilizer Lorazepam.
Medical experts say it can also increase the risk of self-harm at the start of treatment.
Police searching Lubitz’s flat last week reportedly found a “small mountain of pills,” suggesting he may not have been taking his medication.
How often and how much of them he took forms a major part of the criminal probe into the crash, Bold said.
Lorazepam belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. These treat a variety of conditions including anxiety, sleeping problems, and other mental-health disorders.
Patients with psychiatric issues are warned it could lead to changes in behaviour.
1 Comments:
We had a friend of ours who was taking anti-depressants and when he cut back he became suicidal. Google says: Before taking lorazepam, tell your doctor if you have any breathing problems, glaucoma, kidney or liver disease, or a history of depression, suicidal thoughts, or addiction to drugs or alcohol. http://www.drugs.com/lorazepam.html
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