Motor Driving of the Epileptic Patients.

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 13(4); 1995 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 1995;13(4): 843-853.

간질 환자에서의 차량운전

변영주, 이영기, 이세진

영남대학교 신경과, 영천 성베드로 병원, 대구 불교 병원

Motor Driving of the Epileptic Patients.

Yeung Ju Byun, M.D., Yeung Ki Lee, M.D., Se Jin Lee, M.D

Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Young Chun Saint Paul Hospital, Daegu Bulkyo Hospital

Abstract

Driving restrction for people with seizure disorder is intended to ensure the public's safety, but such resrictions may unduly harm the welfare of many people with seizures. There is a trend toward greater liberalization of driving standards for people with seizure disorder. The present survey indicates the current driving status of 194 male patients which were managed at the Yeungnam University Hospital from Jan. 1994 to JarL 1995. The result was as follows: 33% of the epileptic patients held traffic licences, 21% actually driving, 5% holding the licences and driving the truck and bus commercially; 72% of the patients took licences after onset of the disease, 29% disclosed by traffic authorities due to their military services; Over the half of the patients had complex partial seizure, 68% was seizure-free over one year, 91 % had no history of trabbic accident. Our traffic road regulations prohibited driving cars by epileptic patients, but practically the authorities permitted epileptic patients to drive cars case by case according to the medical certifications which were issued by the physician. In conclusion, we insist that new traffic road regulation, medical standards for permission and regulation, medico-legal- administrative committee, and thorough detection and regular follow-up of the patients were essential for safety of patients and other peoples.