legal obligation - Eye & Vision Message Board

curse · 06-11-2003, 04:04 PM

My mother has been told that she is "legally blind" & her DR. informed her she should NOT be driving, but she continues. Her DR. said he is not obligated to inform the Sec. of State of her blindness. Is this true?

Thanks!

DonnaDe · 06-11-2003, 04:41 PM

I'm "legally blind" too but it's correctable with glasses. I'm assuming this is not true for your mom? In any event, even if the eye doctor is not legally obligated to inform the secretary of state, it IS your mother's responsibility. Does she have to take an eye test when she gets her license renewed? I'm sure that varies from state to state. If you're really concerned, maybe you could call and get her license revolked? I know that's harsh, but you could be saving her life and that of an innocent person(s).

I know I didn't really answer your question

My instinct is no, it is not the eye doctor's responsibility. Where does it stop? What if she was performing a dangerous job, or had a dangerous hobby? Is it up to the eye doctor to start calling her place of employment, etc?

curse · 06-11-2003, 05:28 PM

Mothers eyes can not be corrected w/ glasses & she refuses surgery, so........
My Ep. claimed to be "obligated" to inform the Sec. of State about my seizures. That's why I wonder.
We have gone so far as to ask the Sec. of State "incognito" about this matter but haven't gotten a response.
She has renewed her license via the mail. Once you get over 60 apparently this is your "gift". I guess they assume the elder folks don't wanta bad photo & will never lose their sight.
We are trying to legally get her banned from driving, but she is not cooperating. It's a LONG story.
We just don't want to be the kids who get her "busted" for driving, but we will do what we gotta do.

)
Mother just thinks of herself, not the kid she will kill or the dog she did hit.

DonnaDe · 06-12-2003, 07:39 AM

That's not as uncommon as you might think. I believe after a certain age you should be required to have vision and road tests done in order to renew your license. That will never happen, though.. the AARP has too much power. So we have tons of old people on the road who can't see, have poor reflexes, and drive really, really slowly. Only they don't believe it's true :-(

Torre · 06-12-2003, 08:18 AM

How about informing her insurance company? They wouldn't want to insure such a high risk driver.

Torre