Question

The Elderly Driver

It was late in the afternoon on a sunny April day. Maybe it was the sun in her eyes, but 82-year-old Janet found herself in her car in a ditch at the side of the road, unsure of how she got there. Once at the hos­pital, her son and daughter joined her and heard the good news that Janet had escaped with just a broken arm. The police report strongly suggested that she had swerved off the road, but it was not clear why.

This was not Janet's first driving "episode", in fact, her driving had been a constant worry to her daughter for over 2 years. Her daughter often offered to take her Mom shopping and insisted that she do the driving when they were together. "Don't you trust me?" was the only thanks the daughter received. When alone, Janet continued to drive herself, staying off the free­ way and increasingly driving only during the day. She knew it was not as easy as it used to be, but it was her lifeline to independence.

Then, a few months after the April incident, the form for Janet's license renewal arrived. A vision test and a physical exam were required, along with a doctor's certification that Janet was in good health and capable of driving; however, no road test was required. So Janet made a doctor's appointment, and at the end of it, she left the forms with a note for the doctor saying, "To the best doctor I have ever had. Thanks for filling this out. You know how much driving means to me."

On Janet's way home from the doctor's office, it happened. She was driving down the road when sud­denly she was crossing that yellow line and heading toward an oncoming car. The teenage driver might have been going a little fast, but Janet was in the wrong lane and the head-on collision killed the 16-year-old passenger in the front seat who was not wearing a seat belt. The 18-year-old driver walked away from the col­lision unharmed, thanks to a seat belt and an inflated airbag.

Janet was never the same emotionally. And despite escaping the collision with just a few bruises, the loss of her driver's license symbolized the end for her. Those lost weekly shopping  trips and the strangers in the assisted living center were not the same as liv­ing in her own home. The young man in the collision screaming for help woke her up almost every night. It was only a year after the collision when Janet died, and it was just like she had said: "Take my license away and it will kill me."

Discussion Questions

1. How does this case reflect the important issue of balancing the legal rights of the individual and the rights of society as a whole?
2. What role do you believe healthcare providers should play in implementing driving laws and regulations?
3. Identify any changes you would make to pre­vent the types of outcomes that occurred in this case
4. How would you communicate the lessons learned in this case to new and inexperienced drivers?

Answer 1

Balancing the legal rights of individual and rights of society:

Rights are the ethical principles regarding social, ethical and legal freedom. Individual rights are the liberties of each individual to live freely, to achieve their life goals, without any hindrance from Government or other people. Rights of society are ensuring social security for each one and also promising a life in dignity and freedom for pparticipating fully in the society. There existing the issues of balancing the individual rights and rights of society from the past years.

The given case is clearly reflecting the issue of balancing between individual and societal rights. Janet, 82 year old lady was having a passion of driving, despite of her age . Even though her daughter warned her not to drive , she never heard it. She pursued driving self and to be independent is her individual rights, But here she didn't consider the rights of others to be safe in the road. Even though she knows that the last episode of accident ( April), was due to some unknown things related to her body or consciousness, she was stubborn to get her licence renewed. She didn't think about other passengers in the road. If she was balancing her right to be independent and societal rights that ensure everyone safety, she could refrain from driving and could find some other way to be independent. But she emphasised only her right and it resulted in death of an young man. Even the Doctor, who gave the certificate didn't consider Janet's health and past history.

2. Role of healthcare providers in implementing the driving laws and regulations:

* Health care providers should be aware of the laws and regulations of driving and its implementation.  

* While certifying the candidate, a thorough health check up and past history of accidents has to be considered.

* Beyond an age , there should not be any issue of the certificate.

* A person, who is not fit for driving, should not be provided with any certificate of licence renewal.

* Healthcare Providers should conduct the fitness test before issuing the certificate and make sure that the individual's health condition support safe driving in any troubled situation of the traffic, otherwise he is at risk for self injury and injury to others.

3. Changes :

( I would like make the changes),

*Her daughter could arrange for a Counselling session to Janet to abstain from her driving.

*At least after the ' April incident '. Doctor or the healthcare provider could have assess the past history of Janet' s accidents.

* After the main accident, Janet could have provided with the crisis intervention techniques to adjust with the shock of accident.

5. To new and inexperienced drivers:

* Do not drink and drive

* Over speed thrills, but it kills ( Some one or yourself)

* Wear the seatbelt always.

* Change the lenses according to the order from healthcare providers and regular eye check up.

* Consider other drivers and vehicles in the road. Respect their rights to drive and move.

* Consider two wheelers and bicycles, when you open the door.

* Be attentive while driving. Be prepared to take evasive action, whenever necessary.

* Consider your health, if not fit or feeling drowsy or dizzy, Don't drive. Do not put in risk your life and others.