Driving licence

[kyleolly]

A friend of mine went to the doctors today and was asked how much he drinks on an average week, he answered honestly and the doctor told him it was far too much and he was going to contact the dvla to have his license revoked because the amount he drinks he'd never be sober enough to drive. Was the doc just blagging or can he actually do that my friend hasn't actually been caught over the limit in his car.

[jonthefox]

It might be a matter of patient confidentiality,although i'm not 100% .

[Bert]

Maybe a double bluff to get him cut the drinking down.

[Craig]

May want to have a read of this...

 

https://www.gov.uk/current-medical-guidelines-dvla-guidance-for-professionals-conditions-a-to-c

[Zingari]

In theory I suppose a doctor could do this , but I think it would be very risky for him/her to do so on the strength of a single conversation .(Your friend may have over estimated his consumption etc )

 

The onus is really on the driver to inform the DVLA and a doctor should only take this action if all other avenues have been explored .

 

My advice would be to change doctor really as the trust has now been sorely tested .

 

PS

Will you let us know what happens as I think this is a very interesting situation ?

[Saxondale]

I thought doctors can't repeat a word you tell them, even if incriminating.

 

I suspect it was rhetoric that your mate has taken literally.

[Trav Le Bleu]

I thought doctors can't repeat a word you tell them, even if incriminating.

 

I suspect it was rhetoric that your mate has taken literally.

 

Absolutely. Or your mate has probably tweeked bits of a fairly mundane conversation in order to make it conversation worthy.

[The Year Of The Fox]

I remember when I went for my medical leaving phase 1 training to go up to phase 2. I was asked the same question and answered truthfully. He told me they would look into deferring my movement up to Catterick as I drank far too much

[ADK]

May want to have a read of this...

 

https://www.gov.uk/current-medical-guidelines-dvla-guidance-for-professionals-conditions-a-to-c

 

Alcohol misuse

There is no single definition which embraces all the variables in this condition but the following is offered as a guide:

Reference to ICD10 F10.1 is relevant.

a state which, because of consumption of alcohol, causes disturbance of behaviour, related disease or other consequences, likely to cause the patient, his/her family or society harm now, or in the future, and which may or may not be associated with dependence

Group 1 entitlement ODL – car, motorcycle

Persistent alcohol misuse, confirmed by medical enquiry and/or by evidence of otherwise unexplained abnormal blood markers, requires licence revocation or refusal until a minimum 6 month period of controlled drinking or abstinence has been attained, with normalisation of blood parameters.

Patient to seek advice from medical or other sources during the period off the road.

Just out of interest how much does your mate say he drinks? (if he dosn't mind sharing).

[kyleolly]

About 7 pints a day

[Julian Joachim Jr Shabadoo]

Ah but is that an average? Say he drinks 70 pints Friday nights (and somehow survives), he'll be sober-ish by Monday, ready to drive again until Friday. Rinse and repeat

 

That or go back to the doctor, tell him it's strictly Kaliber