​Doctors to notify DVLA if a motorist is unfit to drive

​Background on the General Medical Council (GMC)

The General Medical Council (GMC) governs over all doctors in the UK. Any practising doctor must be registered with the GMC to be able to work in the UK.
​There is more information on the GMC’s website on this.

Read more below:
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Doctors must inform the DVLA or DVA of medical conditions

The GMC have now declared that, in accordance to new guidelines, doctors must notify the DVLA (Driving and Vehicle Licencing Agency) and the DVA (Driving and Vehicle Agency in Northern Ireland) of patient’s important medical information that may affect their driving.  
If a patient continues to drive against medical advice and fails to notify the DVLA or DVA then doctors must inform these governing bodies.

In discussions with doctors it is said that they feel anxious about disclosing confidential information, however, it has been made clear by the GMC that confidentiality is not absolute. This has been published to clarify to doctors on how to balance their ethical and legal duties and for potential public responsibilities.

Reasons for this change

• The GMC have brought this change following an incident on 22nd December 2014 where Harry Clarke had passed out at the wheel of a bin lorry. It has been suggested that if doctors had been more transparent this may not have occurred.
• Geoffrey Lederman aged 83, mounted a pavement in North-West London killing 33 year old Desreen in 2012.
• Peter Cole, 87, hit Ambrose Skingle ages 86 in Essex. 87-year-old was jailed in 2012 for fatally injuring another pensioner after lying about his eyesight to keep his licence.
• These new guidelines may not have prevented some of these tragedies but it does show that the GMC are trying to find methods to reduce the chances of it happening again.

Duty of Care

The GMC has said that the responsibility for disclosing any medical information still lies with the patient although if they continue not to act then it is their doctor’s duty to report this.
Niall Dickson, the GMC chief executive, said: “This is difficult territory. Most patients will do the sensible thing, but the truth is that a few will not and may not have the insight to realise that they are a risk to others behind the wheel of a car.”
 
Trial period

These guidelines are currently being tested running from the 25th November 2015 up until early 2016. Towards the end of 2016 there will be a final report on the finalised guidelines.

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