Driving with RR multiple sclerosis

[Electrascoffee]

Someone I know has RRMS and driving is the main part of his job but he hasn't told his employers he has it or anyone else who doesn't know him personally.

Lately he's been having what sounds like relapse symptoms to me - electric shock sensations around neck and blurred vision. He doesn't like to admit that his MS affects him and indeed pretends it has no bearing on his life.

Recently he crashed into a bus stop. Luckily nobody was there and he himself has escaped injury. His car was towed.

Surely it's not right that he's spending many hours a week driving as part of his job when he is ignoring signs of relapse?

[sausageandrashers]

I think he's supposed to tell his work if there is driving involved in his job. He's also legally obliged to tell the DVLA about the ms and they assess fitness to drive.
If he is dangerous then perhaps you need to speak to him. The ms society website has lots of info about who to tell and things and it definitely says he needs to tell his employer.
MS is shit and I understand why he doesn't want to acknowledge that it affects his life. Sadly when there are legal considerations we need to acknowledge it a bit.

[Electrascoffee]

It's a really difficult one. And obviously I don't feel in a position to judge him because it's such an unpredictable illness and it must be awful living with that.

He won't listen to anything I have to say about it. What concerns me is that if someone was at that bus stop he could have crashed into them. If he couldn't drive though, he wouldn't be able to pay his mortgage.

[elephantfan]

His insurance is invalid if he has not told them about his condition.

[Electrascoffee]

Yes I thought that too - but I don't think he has told the insurance company either. He just goes around pretending he doesn't have it.

[thethoughtfox]

Look at the bin lorry driver who killed those pedestrians in Glasgow who had undeclared his heart problems and blacked out at the wheel. he was vilified and had death threats. This will happen to your husband and he may be jailed and his life destroyed when he hurts someone.

[Electrascoffee]

He's not my husband.

[AornisHades]

He should have told the DVLA. They assess you and hopefully give you a 3 year licence. You let your insurance know too but they don't seem to be very interested if the DVLA say OK.
He's being silly. I get electric shock stuff all the time though not just in relapses. The vision problems are more worrying.

[Electrascoffee]

He thinks the symptoms are caused by a spirit. Hence what worries me is that he won't face up to the reality that he can and will have relapses.

[sausageandrashers]

I guess you have the option then of informing someone yourself. It's not fair the responsibility falls to you but it's a fair point that he might hurt someone if he is driving while he isn't safe to do so.
Have you mentioned the legal consequences to him driving without notifying the correct people?
I guess you could inform the police? Or a letter to the dvla? I don't know...
sorry you're in this situation.

[posieperkinandpootle]

Well it's a fine of up to £1,000 for not notifying DVLA of the MS. If he causes death or injury to others he may not need to worry about paying his mortgage if he ends up in a cell. I couldn't risk having an accident involving him on my conscience. I'd give him an ultimatum to either speak to his gp re being certified fit to drive or talk to his employers, or you go to dvla. Perhaps there's another role he could do if he's upfront about it all eg/ delivery driver could work in loading bay, taxi driver on controls

[Cliona1972]

If he has an accident he may lose far more than his job as his insurance is invalid and he will could be held financially liable for any damages.