Citation

Margulescu AD, Anderson MH. Arrhythm Electrophysiol Rev 2019; 8(2): 90-98.

Affiliation

Morriston Cardiac Centre, Department of Cardiology, Morriston Hospital NHS Trust Swansea, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Radcliffe Cardiology)

DOI

10.15420/aer.2019.13.2

PMID

31114682

PMCID

PMC6528027

Abstract

The ability to drive is a highly valued freedom in the developed world. Sudden incapacitation while driving can result in injury or death for the driver and passengers or bystanders. Cardiovascular conditions are a primary cause for sudden incapacitation and regulations have long existed to restrict driving for patients with cardiac conditions at high risk of sudden incapacitation. Significant variation occurs between these rules in different countries and legislatures. Quantification of the potential risk of harm associated with various categories of drivers has attempted to make these regulations more objective. The assumptions on which these calculations are based are now old and less likely to reflect the reality of modern driving. Ultimately, a more individual assessment of risk with a combined assessment of the medical condition and the patient's driving behaviour may be appropriate. The development of driverless technologies may also have an impact on decision making in this field.

Language: en

Keywords

Driving; ICD; arrhythmia; driving restrictions; ethics; incapacitation; medical regulation; risk of harm; road accidents; sudden death