Page 8 | Should I report my colleague for this?

ZZTopp · 2022-12-22T13:55:36+00:00

My colleague had some kind of seizure about a month ago. She lost consciousness whilst out walking. She was upset and confused when she regained consciousness and was taken to A & E. She spent a few days in hospital having tests, luckily everything appeared normal. She was told at the hospital she cannot drive for the foreseeable future. She has been getting a lift to and from work, but I saw her one evening by coincidence driving from the shops. I asked her the next day in work how she was finding not driving to see if she would admit driving but she just said it’s ‘quite difficult’. I then said I had seen her and she admitted she had driven to the shops. She then said she didn’t tell me because she feels judged. She said the doctors have found nothing wrong with her and she feels well. I said well I think the doctors know best and she replied with, ‘the doctors can only base their decisions and diagnosis on information and test results- my test results are normal and I know how I feel’. should I report her to the DVLA / police / manager at work?

StClare101 · 22/12/2022 20:24

Why on earth would you tell her boss? You sound awful!

Lapland123 · 22/12/2022 20:28

Report to DVLA

its a collective responsibility for everyone in our society to do what is necessary

ittakes2 · 22/12/2022 20:29

Tiggal · 22/12/2022 13:57

So there’s nothing wrong with her?

My sister had a seizure and whilst they could not find anything wrong she had to give up driving for a year to make sure she did not have another one while driving.

Burgoo · 22/12/2022 20:29

What a shitty thing to do to someone! Ask a question you know the answer to, just to catch someone out. That is NOT acting in good faith and makes the OP a rather unpleasant person IMO.

I'd remind her of her legal obligation to inform the DVLA and not drive if that is the advice given. I know at least in some specialities the NHS will contact the DVLA as a matter of course (e.g. if you have had a mental health crisis, often teams will inform them). Also highlight the point that if she has a crash she could lose her insurance if they aren't informed too.

That said, you probably should have mentioned that as she said it. She is an adult and it is her responsibility to make life decisions. Yes she may injure or kill someone else, though she is an adult and has to live with consequences. Lets just hope it isn't us or our family that get hurt.

If you insist on acting then take the consequences and know she may well end up in a horrible position re: work etc. If you SEE her driving then you can alert the police as you are then potentially witnessing a criminal offense.

RunnerBum · 22/12/2022 20:33

After my first seizure, I wasn't told to stop driving - I was told that "you're allowed one" because it's very common to have one seizure for a completely unknown reason and then never have one again. If she were told to stop driving then the doctor would've informed the DVLA and she'd have had to surrender her license. They don't just tell people to stop driving and let them continue having a license. They also don't tell you to stop "for the foreseeable future" - what would that mean? She also wouldn't, especially with the NHS stretched how it is, have been kept in for days if they didn't find anything wrong with her and wouldn't have even come close to a neurology referral in the time frame outlined in the OP.

I'd imagine it's far more likely that she lied about being told not to drive to save money on fuel by getting lifts to work or that she didn't feel safe driving so said she was banned but now has got her confidence back and isn't sure how to backtrack on her lie.

Unforgettablefire · 22/12/2022 20:37

All you know is what she's telling you.
I had a seizure over 30 years ago, I injured myself when I fell and needed hospital treatment. The seizure was noted, then I had another and like your friend spent time in hospital having tests. Nothing showed up but I had more seizures and was put on medication which thankfully has worked, I've been ok all these years but still diagnosed epileptic.
Your friend could have epilepsy and might be keeping it quiet, it might not be her first and she might be only having seizures rarely and be ok to drive (you can drive if seizure free for one year)
All you know is what she's told you but if she's had one seizure out of the blue there's a reason, and there's every chance she'll go on to have more.
How will you feel if she kills someone and you've kept this quiet? You have to report it you have a duty, it's dangerous and it's frightening to know people are driving in this situation. Your friend is disgusting.

Unforgettablefire · 22/12/2022 20:42

lifeofasd · 22/12/2022 14:12

Christ, stay out of her business. I can't believe you tried to interrogate her and tested her to see if she would slip up. Sorry, op but you sound horrible. Mind your own business. Yes, she had a seizure, the docs didn't find a tumour or epilepsy to
Explain it but the law if you must be a certain amount of months seizure free before you can drive.
Just leave her be, you don't know anything of this woman's situation. The liklihood of her having another seizure if the scans have showed all clear is about the same as you having a seizure.
Just stick your nose out, who needs enemies with the likes of you around. It's Christmas week just be nice.

Good job you're not a neurologist or working for the dvla you'd be a liability!
Would you say that if one of your family was killed by someone told not to drive by doctors?
And for the record they don't "find" epilepsy they diagnose it, it's a condition.

Wombatbum · 22/12/2022 20:44

MamaFirst · 22/12/2022 14:03

It's nothing to do with the doctor or their decision or test results. If you have a seizure you cannot drive for a certain length of time until its deemed lower risk. I think it's 6 months clear with no history/known cause, 12 months with a known cause.

Not strictly true, my husband (diagnosed with epilepsy but seizure free for 10 years) had a seizure brought on by stress when I was in labour. He was taken to A&E where they performed tests, he had to have a follow up with a doctor who deemed it a one off due to the extreme stress of the situation, they said he was fine to drive. 6 years later he has not had any more seizures.

twelly · 22/12/2022 23:29

So, medical history not known, one to one dr conversation not known, the actual legal situation of seizures and driving not known ie depends on the circumstances. I think this women's medical history and condition is her own business.

MamaFirst · 22/12/2022 23:48

Wombatbum · 22/12/2022 20:44

Not strictly true, my husband (diagnosed with epilepsy but seizure free for 10 years) had a seizure brought on by stress when I was in labour. He was taken to A&E where they performed tests, he had to have a follow up with a doctor who deemed it a one off due to the extreme stress of the situation, they said he was fine to drive. 6 years later he has not had any more seizures.

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I don't know if things have changed in the past 6 years, but the detailed DVLA document available to advise professionals contradicts your husbands experience. So maybe it's changed, maybe you had a rogue doctor as pp's also have. It's a dangerous thing to be stating as fact and defending on the Internet though - as demonstrated by pp who believes it's none if someones business that the individual is driving illegally. I guess they'd also look the other way whilst witnessing someone blindingly drunk or high get behind the wheel... I know whose morals I respect.

MamaFirst · 22/12/2022 23:52

Unforgettablefire · 22/12/2022 20:42

Good job you're not a neurologist or working for the dvla you'd be a liability!
Would you say that if one of your family was killed by someone told not to drive by doctors?
And for the record they don't "find" epilepsy they diagnose it, it's a condition.

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Agreed, we have a neurologist in our midst! That is some science hey, be nice and the brain will behave 👍

Wombatbum · 22/12/2022 23:57

MamaFirst · 22/12/2022 23:48

I don't know if things have changed in the past 6 years, but the detailed DVLA document available to advise professionals contradicts your husbands experience. So maybe it's changed, maybe you had a rogue doctor as pp's also have. It's a dangerous thing to be stating as fact and defending on the Internet though - as demonstrated by pp who believes it's none if someones business that the individual is driving illegally. I guess they'd also look the other way whilst witnessing someone blindingly drunk or high get behind the wheel... I know whose morals I respect.

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Fair enough - that’s what happened to us though and had no reason to doubt it when it was told to us by a doctor.

I am in no way condoning the colleague driving, I was merely replying to a comment. Also I have reported two people for drink driving via 999 in the last few months. First was driving dangerously on the motorway, the police phoned me later that day to let me know he had been arrested. The second one had already got home before they caught up with him 🤬

MamaFirst · 23/12/2022 00:09

@Wombatbum sorry to clarify, I meant that comment in reference to the pp saying op should mind her own business.

twelly · 23/12/2022 00:11

@Wombatbum
Drink driving is very different, a person makes a decision to drink then drive.

bloodyplanes · 23/12/2022 08:15

RunnerBum · 22/12/2022 20:33

After my first seizure, I wasn't told to stop driving - I was told that "you're allowed one" because it's very common to have one seizure for a completely unknown reason and then never have one again. If she were told to stop driving then the doctor would've informed the DVLA and she'd have had to surrender her license. They don't just tell people to stop driving and let them continue having a license. They also don't tell you to stop "for the foreseeable future" - what would that mean? She also wouldn't, especially with the NHS stretched how it is, have been kept in for days if they didn't find anything wrong with her and wouldn't have even come close to a neurology referral in the time frame outlined in the OP.

I'd imagine it's far more likely that she lied about being told not to drive to save money on fuel by getting lifts to work or that she didn't feel safe driving so said she was banned but now has got her confidence back and isn't sure how to backtrack on her lie.

Exactly this! This is exactly what happened with my DC.

TimBoothseyes · 23/12/2022 08:23

BashfulClam · 22/12/2022 17:33

@TimBoothseyes maybe it’s because my relative actually had diagnosed epilepsy he was told 2 years.

So has my DP he's been told 1 year between seizures.

Teder · 23/12/2022 09:55

twelly · 23/12/2022 00:11

@Wombatbum
Drink driving is very different, a person makes a decision to drink then drive.

It’s a decision if you drive against medical advice and the law too, surely?

twelly · 23/12/2022 10:33

@Teder
Yes agree it against the law if you drive when have told you can't.
My point is that we don't know the person has been told that - whereas you would witness a person drinking.

A person who has a medical condition does not choose it whereas they do choose to drink - of course the impact on others could be the same in terms of an accident.

The other point which is not quite the same - someone who is banned from driving due to a medical condition is not the same as someone banned due to a conviction

Notjustanymum · 23/12/2022 11:16

If her Doctor felt it was really too dangerous to drive, they would have reported her condition to the DVLA. If they are just erring on the side of caution, and advising her to avoid driving while they run tests, she isn’t breaking any laws.

Whyarepeoplesojudgemental · 23/12/2022 11:20

My dad had a small seizure during surgery. Drs told home to contact DVLA. Was told not to drive for a year. Was started on meds and had to be seizure free for a year on them. May well not need the meds but if he stopped taking them he’d have to stop driving for another year.

Whyarepeoplesojudgemental · 23/12/2022 11:21

And he had to report to DVLA. Not his Dr.

SinnerBoy · 23/12/2022 11:22

twelly

Drink driving is very different, a person makes a decision to drink then drive.

No it's not. If she's been told by the doctor not to drive, because she could black out and crash, it's very similar. She shouldn't be driving, even a short distance.

MamaFirst · 23/12/2022 11:23

Bullshit not true,stop spouting ignorant and dangerous untruths. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN LICENSE.

MamaFirst · 23/12/2022 11:25

Notjustanymum · 23/12/2022 11:16

If her Doctor felt it was really too dangerous to drive, they would have reported her condition to the DVLA. If they are just erring on the side of caution, and advising her to avoid driving while they run tests, she isn’t breaking any laws.

Bullshit not true,stop spouting ignorant and dangerous untruths. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN LICENSE.

twelly · 23/12/2022 11:48

@SinnerBoy

We don't know what the circumstances are - this dilemma basically boils down to what the medical advice was which none of us know, not even the OP.

People are often vague about what is said in such appointments, also they don't have to share the information with colleagues, friends or family. To be honest if someone asks me about a medical matter I don't always tell them the truth as it is none of their business. In short we don't know - of course the OP can report this person but she does not know the full facts.