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Driving: Does your doctor tell you if they report your seizures to take your licence?
Tue, 09/07/2010 - 19:50Hi,
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: Does your doctor tell you if ...
Submitted by only1leia on Thu, 2010-09-09 - 11:53
I asked my Neurologist because I did not know if the hospital reported me since I just had my first (grand mal) seizure a month ago. It is based by state, but in Minnesota it is NOT required to report to the DMV. He said the doctors won't report you and it is 'your responsiblity' to report and based on an honor system. However, it is not against the law to not report. The only time it becomes an issue is if you get into an accident, the first thing lawyers (and probably insurance as well) will do is look at your health record, in which case you will be slammed with fines and whatever they do if you shouldn't be driving. I haven't reported myself, but I have also pretty much stopped driving for now (drove twice in the last month, both times very short distances).
Like I said, it depends on the state you're in, but I am guessing if you don't have a license to begin with they won't report it, but it will be on your medical history.
I asked my Neurologist because I did not know if the hospital reported me since I just had my first (grand mal) seizure a month ago. It is based by state, but in Minnesota it is NOT required to report to the DMV. He said the doctors won't report you and it is 'your responsiblity' to report and based on an honor system. However, it is not against the law to not report. The only time it becomes an issue is if you get into an accident, the first thing lawyers (and probably insurance as well) will do is look at your health record, in which case you will be slammed with fines and whatever they do if you shouldn't be driving. I haven't reported myself, but I have also pretty much stopped driving for now (drove twice in the last month, both times very short distances).
Like I said, it depends on the state you're in, but I am guessing if you don't have a license to begin with they won't report it, but it will be on your medical history.
Re: Driving: Does your doctor tell you?
Submitted by tcameron on Tue, 2011-04-19 - 14:00
Hi Snowoman,
You don't even have a driver's license? I contacted the Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California about this issue. I was told that it depends on the doctor. If someone get a license after having had a seizure, and the DMV isn't aware of it, that doctor would be held accountable if you had a seizure while driving. Still, they claim that it is extremely rare. In CA, the law requires them to report every seizure to the DMV, but usually not when you don't have a license. I'm sorry that this has happend to you. I lost my license in the early 90's do to uncontrolled seizures. I left a voicemail message for my neurologist to find out if I'm still being reported after every seizure. Try to have a good holiday. God Bless you,
tcameron
Hi Snowoman,
You don't even have a driver's license? I contacted the Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California about this issue. I was told that it depends on the doctor. If someone get a license after having had a seizure, and the DMV isn't aware of it, that doctor would be held accountable if you had a seizure while driving. Still, they claim that it is extremely rare. In CA, the law requires them to report every seizure to the DMV, but usually not when you don't have a license. I'm sorry that this has happend to you. I lost my license in the early 90's do to uncontrolled seizures. I left a voicemail message for my neurologist to find out if I'm still being reported after every seizure. Try to have a good holiday. God Bless you,
tcameron