Should Pilots Be Forced to Release Their Medical Records?

The apparently deliberate crashing of a packed Germanwings jet by a pilot who had previously experienced suicidal tendencies has triggered debate about whether airlines should get access to the medical history of their employees. Andreas Lubitz,, who suffered episodes of severe depression during his brief career , had been excused from work by doctors for an unspecified illness on the day of the crash — a fact that prosecutors say he appears to have concealed from the airline. Cockpit voice recordings suggest the first Officer deliberately crashed Flight 4U 9525 into the French Alps on March 24, killing all 149 others on board. The crash has thrown a spotlight on the world of mental health screening for pilots, who face regular physical testing but are often expected to self-declare illnesses such as addiction or depression.