Doctors have been given new guidance from the General Medical Council (GMC) which sets out the steps they should take if they believe a patient who fails or refuses to stop driving could expose others to a risk of death or serious harm.
A tragic incident in Glasgow in December 2014, which resulted in the death of six pedestrians after they were hit by a bin lorry, highlighted the need for better reporting. It was ruled that the incident could have been avoided if the driver had told the truth about his long history of health issues, which he had not disclosed to his employer.
Patient-doctor confidentiality plays a large role in the debate. The GMC have said that while doctors owe a duty of confidentiality to their patients, they also have a wider duty to protect and promote the health of patients and the public.
The guidance states: “The driver is legally responsible for telling the DVLA or DVA about any such condition or treatment.
“Doctors should therefore alert patients to conditions and treatments that might affect their ability to drive and remind them of their duty to tell the appropriate agency.
“Doctors may, however, need to make a decision about whether to disclose relevant information without consent to the DVLA or DVA in the public interest if a patient is unfit to drive but continues to do so.”
