relatives can inform the dvlc - anonymously if they wish
they oftn try to dump the responsibility onto -anybody else
maryA
> from: David Rayne <[log in to unmask]>
> date: Wed, 14 Jan 2004 22:07:57
> to: [log in to unmask]
> subject: Re: The driving elderly
>
> Simon Child wrote:
> > Mike Carey wrote:
> >
> >> does the GP have the power to *insist* that my
> >> grandfather can no longer drive?
> > See http://www.dvla.gov.uk/at_a_glance/what_is.htm
> > "5 If you do not manage to persuade patients to stop driving, or you
> > are given or find evidence that a patient is continuing to drive
> > contrary to advice, you should disclose relevant medical information
> > immediately, in confidence, to the medical adviser at DVLA."
>
> It's not as simple as that.
>
> In Mike's situation a relative is telling the GP about grandfather's
> unfitness to drive. The GP has not directly seen any evidence.
>
> Now I'm sure that this does not apply to Mike, but we are all aware that
> relatives telling us things may have other agendas (agendae?).
>
> The last time I had to deal with such a situation I asked the patient
> the next time we met about the problems the relative had described
> (without letting on that someone had told me). The patient agreed that
> he was getting them and after discussion (I can't remember whether my
> duty to inform the DVLC was mentioned) he agreed to stop driving.
>
> But, imagine a scenario. Father has promised his car to son when he no
> longer needs it. Son needs car and can't afford (or would rather defraud
> his father than pay for one) so goes to father's GP with stories about
> father's unfitness to drive....
>
> The GP may have an obligation to investigate such claims. but he/she
> certainly should not inform such allegations to the DVLC as fact. Is
> there a mechanism to report 'what relatives say' to the DVLC.
>
>
> DR
>
> --
> David Rayne
> Medical Web Services Ltd
> www.mwsuk.co.uk
Dr Mary Anderson MRCGP
Heaton Moor Medical Centre
SK4 4NX
tel 0161 432 0671
fax 0161 442 1025
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