Sir: I agree that to deprive older people of transport could seriously inconvenience them (Psychiatric Bulletin, December 2000, 24, 469), however, the new General Medical Council guidelines — Confidentiality; Protecting and Providing Information (2000) specifically states that
“The Agency [DVLA] needs to know when driving licence holders have a condition which may now, or in the future, affect their safety as a driver…. If patients refuse to accept the diagnosis or the effect of the condition on their ability to drive, you can suggest that the patients seek a second opinion, and make appropriate arrangements for the patients to do so. You should advise patients not to drive until the second opinion has been obtained.”
No, I do not want to alienate older people with mild cognitive impairment, but I do feel that we have a duty to the public in assessing and monitoring these people. They can, after all, have a driving assessment arranged through regional test centres if they feel they want to appeal against advice not to drive.
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