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Driving: Does your doctor tell you if they report your seizures to take your licence?

Tue, 09/07/2010 - 19:50

Hi,

I don't have a drivers licence. I am wondering if the doctor reported me anyway? They ask if I have a licence and when I say no, it's always 'ohhh'.

The reason I am asking is because I don't want to have a record BEFORE I even get a licence!

Will the doctor TELL you if they reported you? Or do they just quietly report you? Will they report you if you don't even have a licence?

Thanks!

Comments

Re: Driving:

Submitted by inchirieri on Mon, 2011-04-18 - 10:52
I think it really depends on the state, or country for that matter. I live in US now but I am originally from Romania, and for example in my country the doctors are not obliged to report you, at least from what I know. But when you drive you should have a card next to your driving license telling that you have seizures, so that in case of an accident they know immediately what to do. Same goes for example for people wo wear contact lenses. I used to work as a delivery agent for a Baneasa airport rental, which means driving a car a lot and my company didn't have a problem with that, as long as I kept my appointments with the doctor and took medicine. Plus most of the time you deliver a car with a second driver who takes you back to the office, so I was safe on that side.

Driving: Does your doctor tell you if they report your seizures

Submitted by tcameron on Mon, 2011-04-18 - 22:18

It depends on the country and state.  Her in the U.S., there are 6 states which require doctors to report every seizure to the DMV.  This makes it more likely that patients will lie to their doctors out of fear of losing their driver's license.  The rest of the U.S. allow the doctor to determine whether or not to report a seizure to the DMV.  As a result, patients will be more honest with their doctors, and receive the best care possible.

If you're not reporting all your seizures to your doctor, she'll probably think your AED are working and not make any changes.  It could be something as simple as changing the dose of the AED, or it could be something much more complicated.  Make sure to bring in a report of all your seizures to each appointment.  It will be helpful to ask whether or not to wait until the next appointment, or if she needs a phone call after each seizure.

 

It depends on the country and state.  Her in the U.S., there are 6 states which require doctors to report every seizure to the DMV.  This makes it more likely that patients will lie to their doctors out of fear of losing their driver's license.  The rest of the U.S. allow the doctor to determine whether or not to report a seizure to the DMV.  As a result, patients will be more honest with their doctors, and receive the best care possible.

If you're not reporting all your seizures to your doctor, she'll probably think your AED are working and not make any changes.  It could be something as simple as changing the dose of the AED, or it could be something much more complicated.  Make sure to bring in a report of all your seizures to each appointment.  It will be helpful to ask whether or not to wait until the next appointment, or if she needs a phone call after each seizure.

 

Does your doctor tell you if they report your seizures

Submitted by tcameron on Tue, 2011-04-19 - 15:08

Snowwoman,

My epileptologist's nurse told me that they don't report every seizure.   We live in CA, one of the 6 states that require doctors to report the seizures to the Dept. of Public Health, which turns it over to the DMV.  There is a possibility that your doctor assumed you were already driving.  I would contact him and chew him out.  Not that it would you help much, since the DMV has this info, but he might stop reporting your seizures.  Also, it might help other patients he "assumes" already are driving.

Try to have a Happy Holy Week,

Snowwoman,

My epileptologist's nurse told me that they don't report every seizure.   We live in CA, one of the 6 states that require doctors to report the seizures to the Dept. of Public Health, which turns it over to the DMV.  There is a possibility that your doctor assumed you were already driving.  I would contact him and chew him out.  Not that it would you help much, since the DMV has this info, but he might stop reporting your seizures.  Also, it might help other patients he "assumes" already are driving.

Try to have a Happy Holy Week,

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