The Role of Healthcare Workers and State Policy for Drivers with Dementia

Patients with dementia often refuse to discontinue driving, despite safety concerns raised by their physician. States have different policies regarding the ability or obligation for physicians to report such drivers to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Some states have mandatory reporting laws for patients with certain diagnoses. Other states have optional reporting laws that provide legal protection for physicians, in the event that they choose to report a patient to the DMV. In some states, where there is no reporting policy in place, a physician may be sued for breaking confidentiality to report a driver of concern to the DMV against their will. In these instances, when a physician is unable to report a patient despite concern, it is often left to the family to consider how to address driver cessation for their loved one. The purpose of this case study is to demonstrate the ethical concerns that arise in such instances.