Advised to withdraw my appeal at hearing?

dmg24

Natty68 wrote: »

Can I just say that when I was diagnosed with my Bipolar and started taking the different medicine. I made a point of asking my Dr whether I had to inform the DVLA of these changes etc, and he said it was up to him to tell them if he thought I was not capable of driving. I always mention it everytime he increases/changes my meds and he has always said he knows of no reason to tell the DVLA I should not be driving. He also knows I am sensible enough to make my own mind up whether I should drive on certain days or not i.e. I know when I can drive or not as I am not stupid. If I am having a bad day then I don't drive, one thing that I always am good at and that is keeping my mind on the driving at the time.

The onus is primarily on you to inform the DVLA, for the reasons explained by Richie.

Natty68

dmg24 wrote: »

The onus is primarily on you to inform the DVLA, for the reasons explained by Richie.

But he said that if he advised me not to drive then he would inform the DVLA of his decision on my behalf. Basically because a person with a mental health illness will not accept what the Dr is telling them and wouldn't inform the DVLA on their own back. Hence the backup of the Dr.

At the moment my Dr is quite happy for me to continue driving and so are the DVLA as he enquired for me when we weren't sure whether my medication allowed me to drive.

All my mental health team know I drive and are quite happy for me to continue driving, and they have also said they would have to inform the DVLA if they thought I wasn't fit.

I think it also depends on individual cases regarding mental health and the care they are receiving etc...

dmg24

Natty68 wrote: »

But he said that if he advised me not to drive then he would inform the DVLA of his decision on my behalf. Basically because a person with a mental health illness will not accept what the Dr is telling them and wouldn't inform the DVLA on their own back. Hence the backup of the Dr.

At the moment my Dr is quite happy for me to continue driving and so are the DVLA as he enquired for me when we weren't sure whether my medication allowed me to drive.

All my mental health team know I drive and are quite happy for me to continue driving, and they have also said they would have to inform the DVLA if they thought I wasn't fit.

I think it also depends on individual cases regarding mental health and the care they are receiving etc...

You don't appear to have read what I have written, nor the post by Richie that I referred you to. The fact is that the obligation remains with you - if you have an accident, it is you that will be prosecuted if you should not have been driving.

Natty68

Then if it is up to me to tell the DVLA, how come my Dr and Mental Health Team have said it is okay for me to drive and they would inform the DVLA if they thought I was not fit to drive/of my condition.? That is what confuses me..

Although I will hasten to add that the DVLA do know of my condition and have said that there is no reason why I can't drive. I was also told by them that my Dr would inform them if I was to have my licence removed because not everyone takes it upon themselves to declare to the DVLA when advised by their Dr, hence the reason the Dr gets involved, and that they would then contact me if they thought I needed to surrender my licence.

I have read the posts you refer to which is why I am confused. Have they changed the rules as to who can inform them recently? Because if they have then how is anyone to know whether to tell the DVLA? I am sure it is not something most people think about when they get ill. Hence the reason the Dr advises them or advises the patient whether they can drive or not.

Edited to add: It seems I have been misinformed by my Dr and the MHT, that they would advise them - I have checked on the DVLA website and it does say the client has to inform them, and then they will get any other info from the Dr or MHT if necessary. Although I have noticed that my other diagnosis - Personality Disorder - it says I do not need to notify them if my disorder does not effect my driving.

SingleSue

jetta_wales wrote: »

And how many people do you think read the very very lengthy leaflet in ever pack of meds they are given? Very few which is exactly why the pharmacist Tells you any serious things to be aware of when taking them when they give them to you. My ex SIL being a pharmacist used to list some really stupid stuff that they have to tell you about just in case. Especially with somebody with a mental health condition they should have been made aware by their GP at least of such important implications of taking each medication. She may well be even less likely to spend 40 mins reading the leaflet in each box than the rest of us are and very few people do.

My Mum read the full leaflet for one of her blood pressure tablets once, the list of potential side affects (including causing even higher blood preseaure) scared the crap out of her so she won't read them any more lol but the doctor and pharmacist always make sure nothing she takes clashes etc and tell her what she really needs to know (like not to eat grapefruit) because it's their job.

Me! But then I get OCD about things like that...blooming good job I do too as when I was pregnant with youngest, the doctor prescribed something which was a complete no no for a pregnant woman.

For me, it was because my now ex hubby had a few different illnesses and was on a cocktail of drugs, all very carefully balanced and any contra indications could cause the whole house of cards to come crashing down...so I checked obsessively every time he was prescribed anything.

Re driving and meds, my doctor knows I am very eek about this...he would like to put me on stronger meds for the pain but I refuse to take anything that will impact on my ability to drive...I would rather be in pain than not be able to drive. If he does prescribe something which I feel hinders that ability, then I stop taking it....most frustrating for the doctor.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Natty68 wrote: »

Can I just say that when I was diagnosed with my Bipolar and started taking the different medicine. I made a point of asking my Dr whether I had to inform the DVLA of these changes etc, and he said it was up to him to tell them if he thought I was not capable of driving. I always mention it everytime he increases/changes my meds and he has always said he knows of no reason to tell the DVLA I should not be driving. He also knows I am sensible enough to make my own mind up whether I should drive on certain days or not i.e. I know when I can drive or not as I am not stupid. If I am having a bad day then I don't drive, one thing that I always am good at and that is keeping my mind on the driving at the time.

It is as you say up to him .. .. your GP that is, and he will .. .. because he is required to by law .. .. did you also know the GP is under no obligation to tell you his patient that he has informed Swansea of your incapacity to drive.

Because your GP will tell you if you [ generally ] shouldn't drive, in no way absolves you from the law. If you [ in the particularly ] break the law on any given day in any way, you will be held responsible and properly so, ignorance is. and never has been an acceptable excuse for breaking the law.

Anyone who gets behind a wheel, knowingly or otherwise, and maims / kills whether because of an arthritic leg / powerful painkillers / bipolar is individually responsible. Telling the mother's - fathers - brothers - sisters in the jury that you killed someone's kids but it was your doctors fault is a nonsense, being without a car and totally housebound will suddenly become preferable to the alternative ............. !

It's a very personal balancing act between the struggle for some kind of independence and the alternative, at the end of the day it is just that the day .. .. pick the wrong day to drive and you answer to both the law and your conscience. One thing for sure you GP, or anyone else in your medial world can not protect you.

sunnyone

SingleSue wrote: »

Me! But then I get OCD about things like that...blooming good job I do too as when I was pregnant with youngest, the doctor prescribed something which was a complete no no for a pregnant woman.

For me, it was because my now ex hubby had a few different illnesses and was on a cocktail of drugs, all very carefully balanced and any contra indications could cause the whole house of cards to come crashing down...so I checked obsessively every time he was prescribed anything.

Re driving and meds, my doctor knows I am very eek about this...he would like to put me on stronger meds for the pain but I refuse to take anything that will impact on my ability to drive...I would rather be in pain than not be able to drive. If he does prescribe something which I feel hinders that ability, then I stop taking it....most frustrating for the doctor.

I read every single one to Sue, I then look them up in that book the doctors use because I am reponsible for my self as an adult.

spherelance

sunnyone wrote: »

Every driver knows that they must inform the DVLA of any medical condition and/or any meds they take which would affect their ability to drive, I have always informed them of everything and they get a bit sick of me ringing just whenever my scripts change but its better to be safe than sorry because cars are lethal weapons that not only kill but can leave people with smashed/crushed spines/pelvis like mine done by drivers who drive while unfit like the Op.

So you have never made a mistake or error of judgement in your life?

You have never done anything wrong at all?

spherelance

sunnyone wrote: »

I read every single one to Sue, I then look them up in that book the doctors use because I am reponsible for my self as an adult.

But you behave like a child having a tantrum.

charmaine

Tomorrow morning I will ring DVLA and my GP and Pyschiatrist to find out what should be done. So thank you to all who commented. What I ask is if anyone can suggest what I should do now in terms of the DLA.?