Assessing fitness to drive in brain tumour patients: a grey matter of law, ethics, and medicine
Current Oncology, 2013•mdpi.com
Background: Neurocognitive deficits from brain tumours may impair the ability to safely
operate a motor vehicle. Although certain jurisdictions in Canada legally require that
physicians report patients who are unfit to drive, criteria for determining fitness are not
clearly defined for brain tumours. Methods: Patients receiving brain radiotherapy at our
institution from January to June 2009 were identified using the Oncology Patient Information
System. In addition to descriptive statistics, details of driving assessment were reviewed …
operate a motor vehicle. Although certain jurisdictions in Canada legally require that
physicians report patients who are unfit to drive, criteria for determining fitness are not
clearly defined for brain tumours. Methods: Patients receiving brain radiotherapy at our
institution from January to June 2009 were identified using the Oncology Patient Information
System. In addition to descriptive statistics, details of driving assessment were reviewed …
Background
Neurocognitive deficits from brain tumours may impair the ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. Although certain jurisdictions in Canada legally require that physicians report patients who are unfit to drive, criteria for determining fitness are not clearly defined for brain tumours. Methods
Patients receiving brain radiotherapy at our institution from January to June 2009 were identified using the Oncology Patient Information System. In addition to descriptive statistics, details of driving assessment were reviewed retrospectively. The Fisher exact test was used to determine factors predictive of reporting a patient to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) as unfit to drive. A logistic regression model was constructed to further determine factors predictive of reporting. Results
Of the 158 patients available for analysis, 48 (30%) were reported to the MTO, and 64 (41%) were advised to stop driving. With respect to the 53 patients with seizures, a report was submitted to the MTO for 30 (57%), and a documented discussion about the implications of driving was held with 35 (66%). On univariate analysis, younger age, a central nervous system primary, higher brain radiotherapy dose, unifocal disease, and the presence of seizures were predictive of physician reporting (p< 0.05). On logistic regression modelling, the presence of seizures (odds ratio: 3.9) and a higher radiotherapy dose (odds ratio: 1.3) remained predictive of reporting. Interpretation
Physicians frequently do not discuss the implications of driving with brain tumour patients or are not properly documenting such advice (or both). Clear and concise reporting guidelines need to be drafted given the legal, medical, and ethical concerns surrounding this public health issue.MDPI
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