Doctors ordered to report patients to DVLA

Not sure where you get that idea, the DVLA are a bureaucratic nightmare that will take your licence away in a flash and have you jumping through hoops for months on end for so much as ticking the wrong box.

So if they are unsafe to drive, then surely it is the doctor's responsibility, according to your own logic, which would require them to report their patients to the DVLA.

'The guidance also emphasises that when doctors diagnose a patient's condition, or provide treatment, they should keep the patient's ability to drive safely at the forefront of their minds.'

This angers me. A doctor should be focused on treating their patient to improve the patient's quality of life. Not focused on 'is my patient safe to drive?'

I am well aware of that thanks. My dad had to fight to get his back, despite there being no evidence.

from my reading of the advice, it is if the GP has serious concerns for safety.

It's not " the patient has admitted that in the past, they drank/took drugs"

If the GP knew that a pilot was an alcoholic who had to down half a bottle of vodka for breakfast, he would be wrong to just ignore the consequences of keeping quiet

Must have been awful, all too common a story though. Until the DVLA are fit for purpose forcing patients through that bureaucratic nightmare for some the notifiable illnesses I just copy pasted from the DVLA site below is just downright nasty.

Do you agree with this or is patient confidentially more important? Is it really a GPs job to inform the DVLA?

While there are clearly far too many people on the roads that shouldn't be there, I don't think it should be doctors responsibility and the erosion of trust it may cause will be more damaging. It will certainly make me think twice before mentioning certain things to my GP, I won't be telling them about any past drug use for instance.

The whole thing was rather ridiculous. If you have epilepsy, you're banned for a certain amount of time. (I can never remember which way around it goes)

I can see your argument and yes its true, it could potentially harm the doctor-patient relationship and they may withhold giving all the infomation to them.

On the other hand, if that person its a potential danger to the public, its the doctors duty to inform the DVLA to avoid a potentially serious accident before it happens. Better safe than sorry imo

Evidence? All you can tell the DVLA is that you THINK he's drinking again etc. Leading further down the line of more avoidance behaviour. Long term problems to this policy.

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yeah, if there's no evidence the persons driving then it can cause problems. The best way would be to advise the person to no longer drive, then there will be less negative backlash on the doctor.