Significant physical disability and Polygraphs?

[NickP]

Hello everyone.. just to explain, I'm currently on probation and must take a "lie detector" test every 3 months to verify that I've been following all of my restrictions (many completely trivial). I have no real issue with this -- i've walked the straight and narrow and HAVE been working hard to better myself and my life.. but in truth I've always been skeptical of polygraphs and seriously doubt the validity. I'm personally a bit worried for the mere fact that the innocent can fail and that people who lie can pass..

I also worry because I have a rather significant physical disability. Without going into a whole lot of detail, I have scoliosis, am in a wheelchair, and have limited mobility. Because of my scoliosis I have below normal oxygen intake (my lungs cannot expand completely). I was curious if any of this could effect the polygraph? I mean, again, on a personal level I don't believe anything can detect a lie.. the body does what the body does.. regardless of reason.. but does this put me at a greater risk for failure? Do you think it would be possible to have the polygraph requirement waved because of my disibility? Is this even possible?

Just curious.. because I do have a bit of fear that I could fail even when telling the truth..

[Bill_Brown]

Your questions should be addressed by someone from the medical field and a good attorney.  I don't believe i would be comfortable giving you a polygraph examination without a doctors statement indicating you are physically able to undergo the stress of a polygraph and polygraph would not adversely affect your health.  I am sure many examiners would simply give you the examination and look at the chart tracings before proffering an opinion on your suitability for polygraph testing. 

[George W. Maschke]

With respect to Bill's remarks, I'd point out that doctors are not really in any position to be writing "permission slips" for polygraph examinations. This is because, as Alan P. Zelicoff, M.D. pointed out in a letter to the secretary of the New Mexico Board of Medical Examiners, there is an "absence of data establishing that any particular medical condition may confound polygraph test results."

There is simply no information available on the potential effects of scoliosis on polygraph outcomes. But it's worth noting that polygraphy has not been proven to reliably separate liars from truth-tellers in populations without any serious medical conditions. There is certainly a risk (a very significant risk) that you could fail even when telling the truth. See our book, The Lie Behind the Lie Detector for suggestions on how to mitigate that risk:

https://antipolygraph.org/lie-behind-the-lie-detector.pdf

[NickP]

Thank you very much for your response. I've already been reading your book a few times. I plan to keep reading it and practicing it just in case. I have no intention on doing things against my probation and trying to trick anything.. I just want to actually pass for telling the truth.

Thanks again.

[Nick-P]

Just wanted to update -- I had a poly scheduled last Friday and this is what happened.

I went in, and waited in the office at the scheduled time of 11:30. My probation officer came out and told me that the polygrapher had already started on someone else, and that I would have to wait patiently. I was a bit annoyed, because I came early and expected to be seen then.. but whatever..

So I waited for literally an hour, and finally my PO came back out and said that he was ready (no one else ever came out, so I think him saying the polygrapher was doing someone else's polygraph was a lie. They probably wanted to get me nice and nervous).

Anyway, strangely enough..instead of going to the polygrapher's room, I was brought down to my PO's office. As I went in, the polygrapher followed and greeted me. He said that due to my disability he felt that there was no way for him to accurately administer a poly, and that he was sorry. He also explained that due to my done disorder, he did not feel comfortable, and that he meant no offense. He was rather polite, talked for a few more moments and then left. I found it odd that he already knew he couldn't do it without ever seeing me.. I wonder if I was already being watched in the waiting room..

After that, I was told I could go. 

After leaving, I felt a mix of emotion. On one hand I felt a bit of a relief, but on another, I had read TLBTLD multiple times, familiarized myself with how it would work, and was completely ready. I had absolutely no intention of lying -- but simply wanted to pass. I actually was looking forward to proving that I have been following all of my restrictions.. so it's a bit of a double edged sword.. but in the end I guess it's for the better. I truly don't believe that the polygraph can "detect lies" and never have. I really did not feel comfortable being subjected to something I feel is a voodoo science.. especially against my will.