Do I take MiL at her word?

[Thistledew]

A few months ago MiL, a former nurse, thought that she was suffering from a subarachnoid haemorrhage. I have an earlier thread about it here. It seems that in reality none of the medical professionals though that there was any realistic prospect that this is the case.

I’ve recently found out that MiL still believes that she is currently experiencing symptoms that are consistent with developing a bleed. My instinct is that this is more likely a manifestation of health anxiety, but a) she is the one experiencing headaches etc, and b) she is medically trained and I am not.

My dilemma is that she picks DS up from school once a week in her car. Obviously, it would be bordering on negligence if I allowed someone who has a real and current risk of experiencing a bleed on the brain to drive DS about.

What should I do? Should I take her at her word and say that she is not to drive DS? She can still see him after school, but DH or I would do the collection.

Or do I dismiss her concerns as nothing more than anxiety and allow her to continue to drive him?

Well, if she picks up DS for her own enjoyment it might force some kind of resolution.

Yes, she collects him because she likes to do it. There is no obligation at all for her to do it.

I’m conflicted because I think that there is a problem with the medical profession tending to dismiss women’s health complaints too easily, so I don’t want to brush it off as just anxiety too easily. But I know she will be really upset if I forbid her from driving DS.

But why would she be upset, if she believes this is what she is suffering from then she knows the risks and surely knows what she should and shouldn't be doing.

I think id raise the concerns to her. Tell her if she genuinely believes this, then it isn't safe for her to be driving your son.