are physicians in minnesota required to report their patient has seizures

by Arden Casper 8 min read

Epilepsy and Driving - Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota

20 hours ago After obtaining your license, you must submit medical reports at least once a year. The reports will not be required after you have been off medication and seizure-free for three years. If the treating physician believes the seizure is a one-time event that is not likely to recur, an exception may be made to enable you to obtain a license. >> Go To The Portal


Doctors are not legally required to report a patient’s seizures to the state, but they may do so if they believe the person will not report or is continuing to drive. North Dakota Epilepsy Driving Laws

Doctors are not legally required to report a patient's seizures to the state, but they may do so if they believe the person will not report or is continuing to drive.

Full Answer

Do doctors have to report seizures to the state?

Doctors are not legally required to report a patient’s seizures to the state, but they may do so if they believe the person will not report or is continuing to drive.

What are the laws for epilepsy in Minnesota?

Minnesota Epilepsy Driving Laws When obtaining a license or permit, you are required to report any condition which can even occasionally cause loss of consciousness or voluntary control — defined as the inability to assume and retain upright posture without support, or inability to respond rationally to external stimuli.

Do you have to report a seizure in North Dakota?

North Dakota is a non-mandatory reporting state; neither the doctor nor the licensed driver is required to report a seizure. However, the law does permit doctors to report individuals who they believe are physically or mentally unable to safely operate a motor vehicle.

Do people with epilepsy have to report their condition to the DMV?

The Epilepsy Foundation also has a searchable database of state regulations on its website. In all cases, people with epilepsy must report their condition to their state's DMV. However, states require different people to do the reporting.

What happens if a driver fails to submit a report under subpart 2?

How often do you need a physician's statement?

What is required for reinstatement of a person with episode free control?

What does loss of consciousness mean?

Can a physician cancel a driver's license?

See more

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How do I report a seizure to the DMV in Minnesota?

Contact your local DMV office or go to the "Drivers License Forms" link on the Department of Public Safety's Driver and Vehicle Services webpage at: Loss of Consciousness or Voluntary Control form (Minnesota DVS).

Can you drive if diagnosed with epilepsy?

To drive, you must meet all normal driving requirements and must have been completely free of seizures for one year, with or without taking anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). Different regulations may apply if your seizures do not affect your consciousness (see below).

Can I drive 3 months after seizure?

Driving and epilepsy: a review and reappraisal. Individual state driving restrictions for people with epilepsy in the US. In the United States, the duration of the required seizure-free interval varies among states from 18 months to 3 months.

How long do you have to wait to drive after a seizure in Indiana?

US List of Driving Regulations by StateSTATEREQUIRED PERIOD OF SEIZURE FREEDOMPHYSICIAN REPORTING REQUIREDINDIANANo fixed period of timeNOIOWA6 months Some exceptions apply.NOKANSAS6 months Some exceptions apply.NOKENTUCKY90 daysNO48 more rows

Do you have to declare epilepsy to insurance?

You'll need to tell your insurer about your epilepsy for your motor insurance to be valid. If you need to give up your driving licence it can be difficult to keep your vehicle insured (for example to insure it against theft).

Can you drive on Keppra?

Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Keppra affects you. As with other anticonvulsant medicines, Keppra may cause drowsiness in some people. This is more frequent at the beginning of treatment or at dosage increase.

Can you drive if you have seizures Minnesota?

Minnesota Epilepsy Driving Laws You must be seizure-free for three months in order to obtain a license or permit. You are required to report a seizure, and the date it occurred, to the Department of Vehicle Services within 30 days of the episode.

What are side effects of Keppra?

The most common side effects of Keppra include:dizziness,drowsiness,tiredness,weakness,feeling aggressive or irritable,loss of appetite,stuff nose, and.infection.

Is epilepsy a disability?

Epilepsy is considered a disability and it has a listing in the Social Security Administration (SSA) Blue Book. For epilepsy to qualify for disability benefits, it must meet the criteria of the Blue Book listing. There are different listings for epilepsy in the Blue Book.

Can you drive if you are on seizure medication?

If your doctor has diagnosed you as having a seizure disorder, states will require that you are treated for that condition with medication designed to prevent seizures and that your seizures are under reliable control before the state will allow you to drive.

What happens if you stop taking Keppra?

Withdrawal of Keppra may cause an increase in seizure frequency. Keppra should be tapered off slowly on discontinuation.

Can stress cause seizures without epilepsy?

Even in people without epilepsy, stress and anxiety can trigger PNES, which are also known as pseudoseizures. PNES are physiologically different from the neurological seizures found in epilepsy.

Loss of Consciousness or Voluntary Control - Minnesota

E. If a driver has been free from episodes of loss of consciousness or voluntary control for four years, the commissioner shall require a physician's statement every four years, unless the physician recommends more frequent reports.

Seizure / Loss of Consciousness

Seizure / Loss of Consciousness. MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY . DRIVER AND VEHICLE SERVICES. This form is used to determine your eligibility for Minnesota driving privileges.

Minnesota CDL and DOT Medical Card Requirements

Special Information Updates Pertaining To ALL STATES. MEDICAL EXAMINERS MUST CONTINUE TO ISSUE MEDICAL CERTIFICATES TO ALL DRIVERS. The FMCSA has requested that all medical examiners continue providing drivers with a paper copy of the Medical Examiner’s Certificate – Form MCSA-5876, so that Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) holders can provide a copy to the State licensing agency, and ...

Do I have to report my seizure to the DMV? | LawHelp Minnesota

Dear Senior Legal Line, I recently had a change in my medications which inadvertently caused me to suffer a seizure while I was driving. Luckily, it was a very small, short seizure and no one was hurt. My doctor says it should not happen again after we modified my medications. However, it got me to thinking - do I have to report my seizure to the DMV?

Older Drivers - Older Drivers - Minnesota

Aging Driver Publication Inserted in Twin Cities Business Magazine . The July 2015 issue of Twin Cities Business Magazine will include an aging driver publication to raise awareness and provide resources for aging drivers and their families. Entitled “A Roadmap for Driving Later in Life”, this publication provides an overview of the challenges and opportunities associated with the increase ...

How long do you have to report a seizure to the police?

If so, you must report it within 30 days of the seizure, along with the physician's statement. If you fail to submit the report, the Commissioner of Public Safety can cancel or deny your driving privileges for six months from the date of the failure to report.

What is voluntary control?

The rule defines loss of consciousness or voluntary control as the inability to assume or retain upright posture without support or the inability to respond rationally to external stimuli.

When to report loss of consciousness in Minnesota?

It states that a driver shall report an episode of loss of consciousness or voluntary control, in writing, to the DMV either at the time of applying for a driver's license; or within 30 days after the episode.

What happens if a driver fails to submit a report under subpart 2?

If a driver or applicant has reason to know the requirements of subpart 2 and fails to submit a report required under that subpart or willfully makes a material misrepresentation to the department concerning a loss of consciousness or voluntary control:

How often do you need a physician's statement?

When a driver or applicant submits a physician's statement indicating that loss of consciousness or voluntary control resulted from a change or removal of medication on physician's orders and the physician does not recommend cancellation or denial of the person's driving privileges, the commissioner shall require a physician's statement every six months for a year, or at shorter intervals as recommended by the reporting physician.

What is required for reinstatement of a person with episode free control?

For reinstatement, the commissioner shall require (1) a physician's statement that indicates a favorable prognosis for episode free control of the person's condition, indicates that the person is cooperating in the treatment of the condition, and that indicates the person is medically qualified to exercise reasonable and proper control over a motor vehicle on the public roads, and (2) a satisfactory statement from the driver or applicant stating the date of the last loss of consciousness or voluntary control.

What does loss of consciousness mean?

In this part, "loss of consciousness or voluntary control" means inability to assume and retain upright posture without support or inability to respond rationally to external stimuli. §. Subp. 2.

Can a physician cancel a driver's license?

If the driver or applicant submits a physician's statement that indicates that the episode resulted from a change or removal of medication on physician's orders and the physician does not recommend cancellation or denial of the person's driving privileges, the commissioner shall not cancel or deny the person's driving privileges.

What did the Warren family sue for?

Warren’s family sued both the nurse practitioner and the physician for medical malpractice. Before its ruling April 17, Minnesota law has generally required the existence of a physician-patient relationship to sustain a malpractice action against a physician.

Did the physician recommend hospitalization during the conversation?

The physician did not recommend hospitalization during the conversation and the nurse practitioner did not seek hospitalization for the patient following the conversation. The patient subsequently died from sepsis caused by an untreated staph infection.

Can a person sue a physician for malpractice?

Rather, a person may sue a physician for mal practice – even if that person was not a patient of the physician – if the harm suffered by the person was a “reasonably foreseeable consequence” of the physician’s actions.

How long does it take to get a DMV form?

Be aware of your state regulations and complete forms as fully as possible. Many states require a clinic visit within 3-6 months of having your forms completed. Please try to schedule accordingly, and bring forms with you to clinic. You may mail or fax completed DMV forms to us.

What is a sudden change in seizures that appears serious and different from baseline?

A sudden change in seizures that appears serious and different from baseline. Severe vomiting with inability to take medications as scheduled. You have started a new medication and there is a potential drug reaction (i.e., rash or significant behavioral change).

Can you schedule a seizure appointment after a clinic visit?

If possible, schedule your next appointment after your clinic visit. If unable, you may call to schedule at a later date. Make every effort to keep your appointment. Please arrive on time. Please bring seizure count according to seizure type, along with a current list of all medications and doses.

Is there a doctor on call after office hours?

There is always a doctor on-call after office hours to take urgent calls. Call our office number and tell the operator the name of your doctor and the nature of the urgent problem. The answering service will page the on-call doctor to return your call.

What are the symptoms of epilepsy?

This triggers seizure symptoms. There are different types of seizure symptoms, including: Loss of consciousness. Staring spells while being immobile, unable to move.

How to determine if you are seizure free?

In order to determine your medical status, your state may require regular medical reports from your doctor. These reports will indicate how long you have been seizure free. The reports will also list any issues your doctor may think might affect your ability to drive.

What is a staring spell?

Staring spells while being immobile, unable to move. Twitching, picking, or fiddling movements. Uncontrollable jerking movements of the whole body or only parts of the body. It is not possible to maintain control of a vehicle during a seizure.

Can epilepsy cause a seizure while driving?

As a result, states must make sure someone with epilepsy has the condition under control and is not likely to have a seizure while driving. In addition, some seizure medications cause drowsiness and other side effects. So it is also important to ensure medications don’t present any hazards to the driver. To reduce the risk of accidents, each state ...

Can you get a driver's license with epilepsy?

But people with certain medical conditions, such as epilepsy, may find their states restrict their ability to get and keep a driver’s license. The laws regarding driving with epilepsy vary across the country. So it’s important to understand your state’s epilepsy driving laws and to double check if you move to another state.

Do you have to report seizures to a doctor?

Self-Reporting Seizures. If you live in a state that doesn’t require doctors to report epilepsy, you must self-report your condition. Failing to do so could be dangerous. The state’s decision on your licensure will depend on: The cause of your seizures. The types of seizures.

Do doctors report seizures?

Doctors Reporting Seizures. By law, doctors must report some medical conditions to the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). This lets states know when people can’t drive any longer or need regular evaluation for driving privileges. The specific conditions doctors must report vary between states.

What does it mean to take the wheel?

If you have it, taking the wheel means balancing the need for independence against the need for safety. All states allow people with epilepsy to drive. Each state has its own regulations, and they can vary greatly.

How long do you have to be seizure free?

The best solution, if possible, is to get them under control. In most states, you must be seizure-free for anywhere from 6 months to a year before you'll be allowed to drive.

Can someone with epilepsy drive for the first time?

When a person with epilepsy wishes to drive for the first time, they must fill out an application for a license, potentially with that special form. When someone who already holds a driver's license is diagnosed with epilepsy, that person must notify the DMV.

Do you need to contact the DMV for an epilepsy?

Some want the doctor to contact the DMV. Others need the person with epilepsy to sign a simple form at the time of application for a license or renewal that says they'll notify the DMV of changes in their health status or driving ability.

Do you have to report epilepsy to the DMV?

The Epilepsy Foundation also has a searchable database of state regulations on its website. In all cases, people with epilepsy must report their condition to their state's DMV. However, states require different people to do the reporting. Some want the doctor to contact the DMV.

What happens if a driver fails to submit a report under subpart 2?

If a driver or applicant has reason to know the requirements of subpart 2 and fails to submit a report required under that subpart or willfully makes a material misrepresentation to the department concerning a loss of consciousness or voluntary control:

How often do you need a physician's statement?

When a driver or applicant submits a physician's statement indicating that loss of consciousness or voluntary control resulted from a change or removal of medication on physician's orders and the physician does not recommend cancellation or denial of the person's driving privileges, the commissioner shall require a physician's statement every six months for a year, or at shorter intervals as recommended by the reporting physician.

What is required for reinstatement of a person with episode free control?

For reinstatement, the commissioner shall require (1) a physician's statement that indicates a favorable prognosis for episode free control of the person's condition, indicates that the person is cooperating in the treatment of the condition, and that indicates the person is medically qualified to exercise reasonable and proper control over a motor vehicle on the public roads, and (2) a satisfactory statement from the driver or applicant stating the date of the last loss of consciousness or voluntary control.

What does loss of consciousness mean?

In this part, "loss of consciousness or voluntary control" means inability to assume and retain upright posture without support or inability to respond rationally to external stimuli. §. Subp. 2.

Can a physician cancel a driver's license?

If the driver or applicant submits a physician's statement that indicates that the episode resulted from a change or removal of medication on physician's orders and the physician does not recommend cancellation or denial of the person's driving privileges, the commissioner shall not cancel or deny the person's driving privileges.