Apnea and the Canadian Law ???

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:43 am

Do you suppose there's a chance that you've ALL been "reported" and only a few of you have been asked to sign the form?

Wishing all of my Canadian friends GOOD LUCK with your version of "Big Brother".

Den

housecoatman · Post by **housecoatman** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:07 am

I also wish to thank you Bella !!!

I am glad to find out that it is up to the Doctor in charge and not a general MTO rule.

Thanks again

Ron (Toronto)

Bella · Post by **Bella** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:22 am

I just looked at the MTO site and I see they provide more detail about the process now.
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/ ... index.html

Supposedly the doctor must report you and then the province decides what to do! When I got the letter saying that it was ok for me to drive, I noticed it came from a "Big Brother" kind of departement and I see here that it is called the Driver Improvement Office. Improved???

housecoatman · Post by **housecoatman** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:54 am

Again, Thank you Bella !

I went to the Government site and printed the Information given. I think everyone in Ontario should know about this.

I also printed the form that the Doctor is required to complete if he thinks you are a driving road-risk.

The key word on the report is "UNCONTROLLED"

Therefore if we are in compliance with his prescribed treatment I would think we are "CONTROLLED" and a report not even needed. Again... the Doctor's discretion, what ?

Ron

frapilu · Post by **frapilu** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 1:18 pm

Thank you from me too, Bella. I have both diabetes and sleep apnea so I guess I'm a double-threat. However, both are controlled so I assume that either my doctor sent it off without my knowing (not likely) or she felt that I was controlled so didn't feel it needed to be sent.

Interesting how they have a little check box at the bottom where the doctor says that the patient is aware of the report. I feel that a doctor sending off such a report should be legally required to inform the patient of what they've done. But I guess MoT feels differently.

Thanks again.
France

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:35 am

france

i agree; i understand that they have to notify the gov't., but they should also be required to notify you if they're informing someone of your situation...so much for the privacy act, eh?

this is all good info to have...i would've been very surprised to receive that letter in the mail...i'll have to check out that gov't website

thanks to all who responded to this thread

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 2:19 pm

By the way, there are some states in the USA that have similar laws, rules & regulations.

I know after my sleep study when I got my results report I like to have hit the roof when one of the recommendations was that I lose weight (5'4" and 115 lbs) and that I not drive until my apnea was resolved!!

The sleep lab explained that the doctor who "interviewed" me and ordered the study was NOT the same doctor who read the results and dictated the report. I pointed out the "reporting" doctor must NOT have read the "history" and information I was required to provide either!! So why the devil did I have to waste the time filling it out?? I also made it clear that "standard recommendations" were one big fat crock of horsepuckies when they do NOT apply to that patient IN THE LEAST! I also pointed out that the quality and attentiveness of the doctors dictating the reports reflect on the quality and expected expertise of the studies done at this office and I sure was NOT impressed w/this particular doctor!!!!

I've run into similar w/doctors in other fields. WHY in the devil do we have to jump thru hoops to see that all of our pertinent medical records are sent to them when they never bother to read or consult them?? I pointed out to one such educated idiot that it seemed to me it gave patients a good basis for a lawsuit when proof of certain information (ignored and not consulted by that doctor) had been provided.

I'm not particularly fond of or impressed w/the majority of the medical profession today (in case you haven't guessed). We got MUCH BETTER grass roots medical care 30 years ago than we do now!!!

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 2:22 pm

slinky

5'4" and 115 lbs!? that sounds a lot like me until 2.5 years ago...

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 2:46 pm

It was 90 lbs just a couple of years ago, Sharon. I have Crohn's disease. Weight loss can be one of the hazards of the disease. Only twice in 32 years I've lost like that. For most of my life, 115 lbs is pretty much my usual, natural weight, as long as the Crohn's is behaving itself.