Cognitive Impairment and Dangerous Driving: A Decision-Making Model for the Psychologist to Balance Confidentiality with Safety

This dissertation proposes a decision-making model used to aid psychologists in considering the ethical, legal, and moral implications of intervening with drivers who have cognitive impairments. In these cases, psychologists are confronted with the dilemma of either restricting a person's freedom to drive or releasing the person into society as a potentially dangerous individual. Psychologists who fail to report a cognitively impaired driver who subsequently has an automobile accident may be subject to civil litigation. Conversely, the psychologist who breeches confidentiality by reporting a potentially impaired driver to a medical advisory board or to the Department of Motor Vehicles may be liable for neglecting confidentiality laws. The author offers recommendations for psychologists that focus on client education, increasing awareness of potential client resistance or incapacity to recognize impairment, and proactive intervention strategies that use a system of integrated care.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/04194217
• Authors:
  • Love, Christopher M
• Publication Date: 2007

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Pagination: p 1933
• Serial:
  • Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B, Sciences and Engineering
  • Volume: 68
  • Issue Number: 3-B
  • Publisher: ProQuest Information & Learning
  • ISSN: 0419-4217

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobile drivers; Cognitive impairment; Decision making; Driving cessation; Psychology; Risk assessment
• Uncontrolled Terms: Confidentiality; Delivery of health care; Intervention; Patient education
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01084614
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 28 2008 8:10AM