Physician reporting of medically impaired drivers

Emergency physicians frequently encounter patients whose medical conditions represent a risk of loss of control while driving, e.g., epilepsy and diabetes. In certain states, physicians are under a legal obligation to report such drivers to the motor vehicular authorities. To determine the uniformit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of emergency medicine 2006, Vol.30 (1), p.29-39
Main Authors: Aschkenasy, Miriam T., Drescher, Michael J., Ratzan, Richard M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
accidents, traffic
Accidents, Traffic - statistics & numerical data
Age Factors
automobile driving
Automobile Driving - legislation & jurisprudence
diabetes mellitus
Emergency Medicine
epilepsy
Humans
Mandatory Reporting
medical impairment
Physician's Role
Risk Factors
United States - epidemiology
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Summary:Emergency physicians frequently encounter patients whose medical conditions represent a risk of loss of control while driving, e.g., epilepsy and diabetes. In certain states, physicians are under a legal obligation to report such drivers to the motor vehicular authorities. To determine the uniformity of legislated reporting requirements for physicians caring for patients whose medical conditions represent an automotive hazard, we conducted a survey of Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) legal departments of all the states in the United States for the academic year 1999–2000 regarding physician reporting of patients with medical conditions that might predispose them to a motor vehicle crash (MVC) and compared the results to a similar study done in 1986. Six (12%) of the states had mandatory reporting laws, 25 (49%) had permissive reporting laws, and 20 (39%) had no laws regarding physician reporting. There was a significant difference between the distribution of laws by year. There was no uniformity on a national level concerning such legislation.
ISSN:0736-4679
2352-5029
DOI:10.1016/j.jemermed.2005.04.015