Can you trust your neurologist to protect your privacy?

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jamie0168

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I just had a seizure last night on my medication. I told my new neurologist to get help and be a good patient. His nurse mentioned that I should get on my old medication to avoid any more seizures because it sends me back 6 months before I can drive.

How does the DMV find out that you've had a seizure? Isn't it the neurologist's job to protect your health privacy????!!! Can he really get my license revoked for this seizure??? It makes me never want to be honest with any doctor ever again!

Please don't give me the spiel about how it protects myself and others. I've heard it a million times. I just want to know the specifics of how my health history goes from mine and my doctor's business to the public's.
 
Jamie:

When renewing my license, the DMV where I live asked me, "Do you have any medical condition that would render you unconscious while behind the wheel?" I'm not one to lie. I told them, "I have mild epilepsy." They promptly removed my driver's license from between my fingers & issued me a state ID. The DMV has NO privleges whatsoever to look at any of your health records, & your neurologist did not show the Oklahoma DMV your health records because YOU have to give them permission to have access to them, Jamie. If I am incorrect in any way, please correct me CWE members.
 
Ann is right. I have worked with medical records for the past 10 years. you have to give consent for your records to be shown to anyone exept your primary who gets copyed everytime you go to a specialist. so no worrys.
 
Um, in

Indiana, the doctor is legally required to report you to the DMV, if your E is uncontrolled. Here it has nothing to do with patient confidentiality, but public safety of the entire population. What can you say to that?
 
Thank you, Ann. That makes the picture much clearer. I'm very relieved.

Meetz, as I stated before, I don't care for the public safety spiel. We could start an argument that would go down a slippery slope to how far the government will go to protect the public. I've had the argument many times and I don't care to have it again.
 
Here in Massachusetts, the neurologist has no obligation to tell the DMV. It's sort of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," with my particular neurologist. She assumes I won't drive for 6 months after a seizure, but she doesn't check up on me. For my part, I have made the decision to continue to drive after a seizure, and I have declined to tell the DMV that I have epilepsy.

Best,
Nakamova
 
There are a handful of states the require the Neurologist to report this. For the most part Neurologists are against this because mostly they want to help and someone not reporting seizure activity is a problem for getting proper treatment. It does require discipline and help to get by when you are used to driving.
It sounds like the nurse was trying to remind you of how long you cannot drive. To be sure check the laws in your state. Also when I am on my ban from driving I take it seriously. I consider what would happen if I was in an accident due to a seizure and killed someone. It would be hard to cover up and chances are I would be doing some serious jail time. To each their own as long as they are choices you can live with yourself.
 
Most of you really made me feel much more secure with my neurologist. I suppose that I'm just a little skeptical from this past summer. I was about to get a good job. During the medical exam, I foolishly blurted that I had epilepsy and they turned me away from the job for safety reasons. I just don't want epilepsy to EVER, and I mean EVER become an obstacle to what I want to do in my life...and yes, that includes driving.

Thanks for making me feel better
 
In Texas

I'm not sure if it's just my local or what, but when we first visit our doctor, we sign a release stating that it is ok to share pertinent medical info.
I have never told our DMV (here it's called (DPS) about any seizure. I drive better than most idiots in Texas.
 
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