SYNCOPE and your DRIVER LICENCE

[papabear205]

Does anyone know what happens to your divers licence when you have all kinds of ER and doctor visits for pre-syncope (almost passing out)?   We don't know if it's neurocardiogenic or cardio related yet.   I am so scared my doctor will report me without telling me and I'll get a surprise licence suspension notice in the mail.    All I was told so far was by the ER staff to not drive until I was cleared by my doctor,  but nobody has informed me I would be reported.   Any thoughts?

[PikaPika88]

I also have few episodes of blackout but the doctors (few) reassured me it was noting wrong.  They all gave OK to drive and reassured that I won't faint.  They said the pacemaker is anti faint.  I drive...  I need to work and get money to live with.  Perhaps it is not my choice.  Take care.

[Barbarella]

A neighbor of ours was told not to drive because he had episodes of passing out due to a situation concerning his heart.  He drove anyway, and had an accident, he doesn't remember "how" the accident happened.  

Its good that you do not want to drive until your doctor will clear you.  If your license should be pulled because of a medical condition how can that be humilitating to you?  Its not your fault if you have a medical condition.

I know of another case, a woman, who also was told that she cannot drive because she did pass out at times, and they couldn't find at the time what the cause was, her license was never pulled, she followed doctor's orders and did not drive.  

[papabear205]

Nooooooo :(

I'm not going to drive unless I'm sure I'm okay, but I just don't want to suffer any more humiliation by losing my lisence...DAMMMNIT  :(    Sorry, just frustrated

[Happy2girls]

You should check the website of your state's dept. of transportation.  I pulled this up from mine:

A Physician's Role
To help PennDOT ensure that those individuals applying for a license and those already possessing a license are medically fit to safely drive, it is the Law in Pennsylvania that Physicians and other persons authorized to treat disorders and disabilities must report to PennDOT any patient that has a condition that may limit their ability to drive safely. Through this mechanism, PennDOT is able to identify several thousand drivers each year that cannot drive safely and restricts them from operating a motor vehicle. In addition, several thousand more have a restriction placed on their driving privilege to ensure their ability to drive under conditions most optimal for them. These reports cross the age spectrum with 44% being drivers aged less than 65 years of age. Without the assistance of Pennsylvania’s physicians, these drivers would otherwise go unrecognized, thus posing a significant threat to public safety.

To assist physicians in determining if their patient can drive safely, PennDOT relies on the Medical Advisory Board, which is made up of physicians and officials from PennDOT, to create the Physical and Mental Criteria for reporting. If a driver does not meet these criteria, the physician is required by law to report to the state. The physician is required to report the full name, address, and date of birth of the patient. It is then up to the PennDOT to determine if any action is needed. PennDOT, with assistance of the Physicians, determines if a person can continue drive, or if a restriction on a license or a recall of a license is necessary.

  

[Happy2girls]

I don't know how it works with the ER reporting you but I can tell you of an incident in my neck of the woods.  A young man fainted during a pick-up basketball game and was rushed to the ER, they weren't sure what the problem was but the guy signed himself out and despite the doctors instructions for him not to drive he did anyway.  The next day or so he fainted while driving, he went through a light, hit another car and then careened into an elderly couple leaving Mass killing both the husband and wife.  He was recently tried and convicted of voluntary manslaughter.  The judge was very harsh in his sentencing because of the warning he received from the ER doctors that he chose to ignore.  I know that not being able to drive is a terrible inconvenience but honestly why risk it?