CMS leaders successfully testify against medical driving restriction bill

Wednesday, February 12, 2014 03:39 PM

CMS President-elect Tamaan Osbourne-Roberts, MD, and COMPAC Chair Dave Ross, MD, testified against a bill that would have required a physician to report a patient to the state for any conditions that compromise their ability to drive a vehicle – “loss, interruption or lapse of consciousness or motor function” – imposing both criminal and civil penalties for failure to report. HB14-1068 by Rep. Don Coram (R-Montrose) also would have removed physician immunity for reporting to the DMV thereby exposing physicians to liability by third parties.

While some might initially find this a rational means of removing “unsafe” drivers from the roadways, physicians feared that patients would avoid medical treatment and evaluations, and physicians would face criminal harassment or prosecution if a patient, regardless of ability, is involved in a traffic accident. CMS urged the House Health, Insurance and Environment Committee to see that the policy is inherently discriminatory toward patients with certain chronic but manageable conditions. And legislators did, unanimously blocking its passage out of committee.

Click here to read Osbourne-Roberts’ testimony.