Poll: Should It Be Law That Those With OSA Report It To Gov?

Hawthorne · Post by **Hawthorne** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 4:56 am

I live in Ontario Canada. When I was diagnosed my sleep doctor was required, by law, to report to the Provincial Government, that I had sleep apnea, but was, in his opinion, able to drive without this being a problem.

krousseau · Post by **krousseau** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 9:21 am

Imagine-IF driving restrictions included ALL impaired/distracted drivers and was based not on diagnosis but impairment (ANY REASON-drowsy, low blood sugar, high blood sugar, slow pulse, too young, too old, too angry, too happy(must be on something), talk on cell phone while driving, bad vision, too depressed, on pain meds, too many kids in back seat, on & on. It would probably solve gasoline issues in the US, be a boon to mass transit, reduce if not eliminate pollution.....and if you couldn't drive to your usual job-you could manage a public safety checkpoint on a street in your neighborhood.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 9:33 am

Kay,

I LOVE the way you think.....and love reading your posts.

Are you REALLY a "liberal"?

Best wishes,

Den

3isles · Post by **3isles** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 10:48 am

sure, we should have to report if we have osa/centrals etc, and so should every mother (to be pc - parent) of a newborn who is sleep deprived, and anyone who works nights and might not be getting good sleep in the daytime, All teenagers who obviously never get enough sleep, Anyone with any kind of insomnia, anyone with add/adhd who might be easily distracted when driving....and there I have to agree with Kay, anyone with kids in the car, who might be distracted.... anyone who has been up with a sick family member for more than 2 nights in a row.

frapilu · Post by **frapilu** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 11:42 am

Wow, I'm amazed to see 3 people from Ontario, where I'm from, say that in Ontario a doctor is required to report someone with sleep apnea to the Ministry of Transport. I've been diagnosed for 3 years now without having heard about this. I'll admit that I'm only due to renew my licence next year so perhaps I'll be surprised then. I don't dare ask my doctor about it just in case she didn't realize she was supposed to report me.

I do remember, mind you, being told by my RT at the time I was diagnosed that I could be charged if ever I was in an accident and it was proved I hadn't used my cpap the night before.

I'm completely against this for the same reason as others say. Given that I'm compliant, I'm much less sleep deprived and dangerous than people with babies who wake them up constantly or people on various medications or people who stay up half the night playing on the internet

France

wahooker · Post by **wahooker** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:36 am

What about those with Infants (Got 5 month old twins), Who stay up late playing video games (On weekends) and OSA?

THey are just going to tow my car off to the crusher I suppose.

Offerocker · Post by **Offerocker** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 9:13 am

wahooker wrote:What about those with Infants (Got 5 month old twins), Who stay up late playing video games (On weekends) and OSA?

Sorry about your twins having OSA; which mask do they use?

They must be VERY intelligent, to be playing video games already!
I bet they beat you every time!!

...just kidding, but that's the way I read your remark .

chdurie2 · Post by **chdurie2** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 4:19 pm

As someoner else has already suggested, there's a strong argument that such a requirement would be a violation of our Fourth Amendment protection against undue search and seizure. Because some apnea folks have had bad accidents, that's no reason to turn the rest of us into suspects. I'm surprised you would even raise such a question here. I do not find it interesting. In fact, I find it offensive. We're not on the level of convicted child-sex offenders, and there's been quite a controversy about requiring even their information.

neversleeps · Post by **neversleeps** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:16 pm

chdurie2 wrote:I'm surprised you would even raise such a question here. I do not find it interesting. In fact, I find it offensive.

Seems to me the administrator of this board did not raise the question, but was directing us to the poll in Sleep Review Magazine where the question was raised.

Thanks, Johnny, for making us aware of the poll and giving us the opportunity to share our feelings and weigh in with our opinions.

unclebob · Post by **unclebob** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 10:27 pm

At last !!!

Yes!!!!

By all means, report Apnea to the government!!!!!!

The only thing that bothered me a little about this poll was the particular level of government was not specified. Of course ALL levels of government must be notified. As good citizens we are, it only stands to reason that we must co-operate and keep informed the powers that be. Once we do this, steps can be taken to protect the very society we hold dear.

Think what would happen if we did report :

- No more deaths on the road caused by Apniacs.

- No more waiting for public toilets occupied by sleeping Apniacs.

- All Apniacs would receive those handicapped parking stickers to park right
in front.

- Enhanced disability benefits.

- Early retirement.

- All evil DME's would be under strick government control.

- Special seating at all concerts and sporting events.

- All medical equipment free or highly subsidized.

- Greater respect from the rest of society - "Oh look, there's an Apniac, be
nice to him/her".

- Increased popularity at bars and social events to "tell the stories"

- OK to drowse off whenever we want, people will understand.

- Free distilled water.

- Real Apniacs can come out of the closet and not post as guests anymore.

This is only a smidgen of the benefits that await us. No doubt there will be income tax incentives, sales tax refunds, subsidized housing and a host of others. This IS a time to rejoice!!!

Bob F

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 10:05 am

"Free the Oppressed Apniacs", can be Our Slogan. Jim

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 1:48 pm

I recognize that Johnny did not post the question but merely directed us to a link which did. Sorry, but even the choice of posting the question suggests that it is worth consideration, or at least awareness. I'm not sure that another sleep site's posting of an inherently biased question is worth my awareness or consideration. If there were a movement to actually try to get apnea folks to be required to reveal the information, that would be a different story. But just cuz some jerk (not Johnny, the other sleep site editor/administrator) thinks it's a relevant question, that doesn't mean that it is.

Sorry, Johnny, you do a lot of fine things, but I don't think this is one of them.

chdurie2 · Post by **chdurie2** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 7:41 pm

the above guest was me, Caroline, and no log-in.

Caroline

Offerocker · Post by **Offerocker** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 10:37 pm

Caroline wrote:I recognize that Johnny did not post the question but merely directed us to a link which did. Sorry, but even the choice of posting the question suggests that it is worth consideration, or at least awareness.

I think we MUST BE MADE AWARE that this seed has been planted for consideration.

Many things start from a seed, including weeds.
The best time to fight them is to "nip 'em in the bud", before gaining momentum that we're not able to control.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 2:51 am

Offerocker wrote:
Caroline wrote:I recognize that Johnny did not post the question but merely directed us to a link which did. Sorry, but even the choice of posting the question suggests that it is worth consideration, or at least awareness.
I think we MUST BE MADE AWARE that this seed has been planted for consideration.

Many things start from a seed, including weeds.
The best time to fight them is to "nip 'em in the bud", before gaining momentum that we're not able to control.

Offarocker--

Yes, but consider the source. The source is a competitive sleep forum. It's one of our own throwing out the idea just to provoke people, to play with people. It's not like this is coming from some group that's anti-apnea. I don't think the provocation should be continued when there's no threat. We have enough to think about.

Caroline

Mask

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Poll: Should It Be Law That Those With OSA Report It To Gov?

Sleep Apnea and the Government