David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
Critics: Don?t tie driver?s licence renewal to psychiatric history
By JEFFREY SIMPSON, The Chronicle Herald
Wed. Sep 10 - 6:31 PM
Mental health advocates [in Nova Scotia] think the province should steer clear of asking drivers about their psychiatric history.
"It?s all very strange," Carol Tooton, executive director of the Nova Scotia division of the Canadian Mental Health Association, said in an interview Tuesday. "It?s not the appropriate approach.
"I can?t think of any reason why they?d want to go this route."
Service Nova Scotia now requires people renewing their licences to indicate on an application form if they?ve had a "psychiatric or psychological condition."
People who indicate yes ? even if it was something such as a bout of depression ? are asked to provide more specific details and then must have a doctor complete a medical, sharing what?s usually confidential information with the government.
"The contents of the medical report will be reviewed by department staff and may be referred to a committee of medical specialists who make recommendations on clients? medical fitness to safely drive," the province has advised affected people in writing.
The application form also asks those renewing their licences if they have had lung, heart, eye or neurological diseases, a stroke or dementia.
Doctors sometimes charge a fee for the medical and failure to comply with the request could result in drivers losing their licences.
Ms. Tooton wondered why the province would require such sensitive medical information that has little to do with somebody?s ability to operate a vehicle.
"I?ve never heard of this before. It certainly doesn?t help to eliminate the stigma around someone who may have a mental illness.
"If you?ve gone through an episode of depression, for example, probably the last thing you?re going to be thinking about is getting in your car and driving somewhere. You have trouble getting out of bed in the morning."
It?s inappropriate to put people in an awkward position where they?re faced with divulging medical information, she said.
"Traditionally, people have decided on their own whether or not they?re capable of continuing to drive, and sometimes in consultation with a physician."
Paul Arsenault, the provincial registrar of motor vehicles, defended the practice, saying that his department needs to know that information for the sake of public safety.
"If somebody?s severely depressed, they probably shouldn?t be on the road," he said.
Mr. Arsenault said many people who have been treated for mental illnesses such as depression or anxiety are taking prescription medication that could affect their ability to drive.
"We need to know about that," he said. "There?s a very limited number of people who have access to this information.
"We want to know if there?s a history. That doesn?t mean we?re not going to give them a driver?s licence."
Stephen Ayers, the executive director of the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia, said he was uneasy about the requirement and found it intrusive.
"This is concerning, obviously. It?s required by law for a physician or psychiatrist to notify (the Registry of) Motor Vehicles of a medical condition a person has that would impair their ability to drive."
David Simpson, with the Mental Health Police Records Check Coalition, an Ontario rights advocacy organization, said the practice smacks of discrimination.
"What you always have to be worried about in situations like this is if there is some sort of systemic bias in place or covert discrimination, that they believe because you have a mental illness you?re going to use your vehicle as a weapon to injure people or injure yourself."
He also expressed concern about affected people having to cough up $50 for a doctor to complete a medical.
By JEFFREY SIMPSON, The Chronicle Herald
Wed. Sep 10 - 6:31 PM
Mental health advocates [in Nova Scotia] think the province should steer clear of asking drivers about their psychiatric history.
"It?s all very strange," Carol Tooton, executive director of the Nova Scotia division of the Canadian Mental Health Association, said in an interview Tuesday. "It?s not the appropriate approach.
"I can?t think of any reason why they?d want to go this route."
Service Nova Scotia now requires people renewing their licences to indicate on an application form if they?ve had a "psychiatric or psychological condition."
People who indicate yes ? even if it was something such as a bout of depression ? are asked to provide more specific details and then must have a doctor complete a medical, sharing what?s usually confidential information with the government.
"The contents of the medical report will be reviewed by department staff and may be referred to a committee of medical specialists who make recommendations on clients? medical fitness to safely drive," the province has advised affected people in writing.
The application form also asks those renewing their licences if they have had lung, heart, eye or neurological diseases, a stroke or dementia.
Doctors sometimes charge a fee for the medical and failure to comply with the request could result in drivers losing their licences.
Ms. Tooton wondered why the province would require such sensitive medical information that has little to do with somebody?s ability to operate a vehicle.
"I?ve never heard of this before. It certainly doesn?t help to eliminate the stigma around someone who may have a mental illness.
"If you?ve gone through an episode of depression, for example, probably the last thing you?re going to be thinking about is getting in your car and driving somewhere. You have trouble getting out of bed in the morning."
It?s inappropriate to put people in an awkward position where they?re faced with divulging medical information, she said.
"Traditionally, people have decided on their own whether or not they?re capable of continuing to drive, and sometimes in consultation with a physician."
Paul Arsenault, the provincial registrar of motor vehicles, defended the practice, saying that his department needs to know that information for the sake of public safety.
"If somebody?s severely depressed, they probably shouldn?t be on the road," he said.
Mr. Arsenault said many people who have been treated for mental illnesses such as depression or anxiety are taking prescription medication that could affect their ability to drive.
"We need to know about that," he said. "There?s a very limited number of people who have access to this information.
"We want to know if there?s a history. That doesn?t mean we?re not going to give them a driver?s licence."
Stephen Ayers, the executive director of the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia, said he was uneasy about the requirement and found it intrusive.
"This is concerning, obviously. It?s required by law for a physician or psychiatrist to notify (the Registry of) Motor Vehicles of a medical condition a person has that would impair their ability to drive."
David Simpson, with the Mental Health Police Records Check Coalition, an Ontario rights advocacy organization, said the practice smacks of discrimination.
"What you always have to be worried about in situations like this is if there is some sort of systemic bias in place or covert discrimination, that they believe because you have a mental illness you?re going to use your vehicle as a weapon to injure people or injure yourself."
He also expressed concern about affected people having to cough up $50 for a doctor to complete a medical.
