Visited some out-of-state family this weekend - found out that one of my (many) nieces just got her learner's permit two weeks ago. However, she has a long history of epileptic seizures - they can be triggered easily in her case, and her medication doesn't always control the disease.
She mentioned to my wife and others that she had had a grand mal episode last week, but that she was wasn't going to tell the doctor because they would make her stop driving. My wife is conflicted about what to do (forget the sister-in-law - the niece lives with her older sister, and pretty much runs wild).
My wife had a single seizure at age 42, and was not allowed to drive for six months until it was established that her medication was effective (it was). It was a royal pain in the rump to drive her back and forth, but we were both terrified of the results if she had a second episode while driving. Bear mind, too, that we spent ten years raising a nephew whose parents were killed by an out-of-control driver - we might be a little more aware of the mess these situations leave behind.
My wife is debating whether to contact the niece's doctor to let them know - we hate to tattle, but the odds of somebody getting killed or injured is pretty high. Neither of us really give a damm if the niece gets mad at us .
What would you goofballs do?
Sep 10, 2010 7:56pm
I Wear Pants
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Fri, Sep 10, 2010 7:59 PMSep 10, 2010 7:59 PM
I don't know if you're allowed to contact the niece's doctor or if he would be able to do anything about it.
Sep 10, 2010 7:59pm
Rotinaj
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Fri, Sep 10, 2010 8:03 PMSep 10, 2010 8:03 PM
Tell the doctor. I know I wouldn't be able to live with myself if someone was badly injured/killed and I could of prevented it.
Sep 10, 2010 8:03pm
tk421
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Fri, Sep 10, 2010 8:06 PMSep 10, 2010 8:06 PM
Tell the doctor, definitely.
Sep 10, 2010 8:06pm
I Wear Pants
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Fri, Sep 10, 2010 8:17 PMSep 10, 2010 8:17 PM
But yeah, tell the doc. I mean, if he can't do anything because of privacy then at least you did everything you could.
Don't want someone hurt.
Sep 10, 2010 8:17pm
ZWICK 4 PREZ
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ZWICK 4 PREZ
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Fri, Sep 10, 2010 8:18 PMSep 10, 2010 8:18 PM
snitches get stiches.
seriously tho.. she shouldnt be driving until she gets them controlled.
Sep 10, 2010 8:18pm
CenterBHSFan
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CenterBHSFan
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Fri, Sep 10, 2010 8:25 PMSep 10, 2010 8:25 PM
Somebody needs to get in this girls face and let her have it. It would be medically prudent, added with common sense, not to mention common decency to be honest with her doctor. It could save her or someone elses life!
Then call the doctor in addition. Her and her family can get as pissy as they want to be. They will just have to get over it or stay under it.
Sep 10, 2010 8:25pm
enigmaax
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enigmaax
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Fri, Sep 10, 2010 9:57 PMSep 10, 2010 9:57 PM
Eh, just to keep the thread alive I'm gonna go ahead and say....don't be a bitch.
Sep 10, 2010 9:57pm
LJ
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Fri, Sep 10, 2010 10:32 PMSep 10, 2010 10:32 PM
Rat, public safety issue.
Sep 10, 2010 10:32pm
Scarlet_Buckeye
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Fri, Sep 10, 2010 10:53 PMSep 10, 2010 10:53 PM
Tell the doc but I'm pretty positive that legally he can't act on the information as it is second hand.
Sep 10, 2010 10:53pm
Mohican00
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Sat, Sep 11, 2010 3:32 PMSep 11, 2010 3:32 PM
don't really care about the topic but this sig made me lol
"Liver shot, liver shot, liver shot....now go get drunk" -Bas Rutten in reference to the Bas Rutten drinking game.
Sep 11, 2010 3:32pm
BORIStheCrusher
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BORIStheCrusher
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Sat, Sep 11, 2010 3:42 PMSep 11, 2010 3:42 PM
You need to tell somebody. I normally say don't be a tattle tale, but this is something I can relate to. In 2005 I was diagnosed with epilepsy, and the first seizure I had was while I was driving. Luckily I didn't hit anybody, but I could have easily been killed. I was going 75 mph on the highway, blacked out and drove head on into a concrete barrier. The paramedics told me I was lucky to be alive, and I only walked away with a scratch on my arm, but it could have been much worse. I was in college so my parents and gf drove me around, it sucks but 2.5 years later I was driving again. If she just got her permit than she should be used to people driving her, the alternative just isn't worth it if something goes wrong.
Sep 11, 2010 3:42pm
fan_from_texas
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Sat, Sep 11, 2010 8:45 PMSep 11, 2010 8:45 PM
Rat.
Sep 11, 2010 8:45pm
friendfromlowry
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Sun, Sep 12, 2010 11:48 AMSep 12, 2010 11:48 AM
Think you definitely have to rat, and it's not even ratting in my opinion. Every 15-16 year old wants to drive badly, but she needs to grow up and realize she's not safe to right now. What happens if she's driving down the interstate at 70mph during rush hour (yeah right, more like 30mph) and has a grand mal? Going to be game over for a bunch of people. Perhaps your doctor can't do much based on just you telling them, but you at least make them aware of the situation.
Sep 12, 2010 11:48am
redfalcon
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Sun, Sep 12, 2010 5:35 PMSep 12, 2010 5:35 PM
Rat
Sep 12, 2010 5:35pm
I Wear Pants
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Sun, Sep 12, 2010 5:53 PMSep 12, 2010 5:53 PM
Mohican00;479821 wrote:don't really care about the topic but this sig made me lol
There's a game you play when he's doing the commentary for a fight. One of the times you drink is when Bas mentions the liver in any way. One time he was commentating and Bas said the quote in my sig. I really hope people somewhere were playing right then and were all "oh no".
Sep 12, 2010 5:53pm
darbypitcher22
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Sun, Sep 12, 2010 9:19 PMSep 12, 2010 9:19 PM
tell the doc
Sep 12, 2010 9:19pm
I Wear Pants
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Sun, Sep 12, 2010 9:37 PMSep 12, 2010 9:37 PM
Tell the doctor or parents or someone.
Sep 12, 2010 9:37pm
Stiffman
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Sun, Sep 12, 2010 10:17 PMSep 12, 2010 10:17 PM
I have had three seizures, but none while driving. It scares me to even think of one while driving! Mine were grand mal too. Rat her out!
Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk
Sep 12, 2010 10:17pm
Tiernan
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Mon, Sep 13, 2010 8:31 AMSep 13, 2010 8:31 AM
forget telling the Doc...tell the rest of the community. Make up flyers and post around her neighborhood, guaranteed that will solve the problem.
