Evaluation of fitness to drive. The physician's role in assessing elderly or demented patients.
The role of physicians in deciding whether a patient should continue to drive is purely advisory. However, physicians have a moral and, in some states, a legal obligation to report patients who are no longer fit to drive. The most authoritative test to predict safe driving in the elderly is an on-road evaluation conducted by the state driver's licensing authority, which has ultimate responsibility for deciding a patient's fitness to drive. Patients with mild dementia are generally considered safe drivers, although specialized testing, such as an on-road test, may be indicated. Those with moderate dementia can be further evaluated by the on-road test, since psychological testing to distinguish moderate from mild dementia is imprecise. Severe dementia is generally considered a contraindication to driving. When a patient is deemed unfit to drive, the physician can provide counseling and support to help ease the transition away from driving.
Kakaiya
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University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Primary Care Clinic at Rockton, IL 61072, USA.
Tisovec
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Fulkerson
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D000368:Aged; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D003704:Dementia; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008004:Licensure / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010819:Physician's Role; D014481:United States