EPILEPTIC DRIVERS: Organization Asks State to Review Mandatory Reporting Rule
The Epilepsy Foundation of America has asked the California Department of Health Services to review regulations requiring physicians to report the names of those patients who are diagnosed with seizure-provoking disease to the Department of Motor Vehicles, the AP/San Jose Mercury News reports. Rather than keeping the "roads safe from seizure-prone drivers," the Maryland-based organization argues that the requirement actually "discourages people from talking openly" about their condition with physicians. The foundation is calling for more flexibility in the regulations. While the DMV does not keep separate records on epileptic patients, DMV spokesperson Bill Gengler indicated that the department last year received 44,000 referrals from physicians "involving persons who could be prone to a loss of consciousness" due to suspected epileptic seizures. The DHS has been reviewing the rules and is expected to offer a plan for administrative review in April. Besides California, five other states -- Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon and Pennsylvania -- have adopted similar regulations (3/14).
This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.