Disorders of the Equilibrium and Drivers Licensing Boards

The Equilibrium Subcommittee and the Hearing and Equilibrium Committee of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inc. believe that physicians should not be required to report their patients with disorders of equilibrium to drivers licensing boards. Physicians should cooperate with such boards if given permission by their patients to give medical information that could help the board to determine whether an individual can safely operate a motor vehicle. It is our position that the responsibility for reporting medical conditions is between the patient and the state's division of motor vehicles. This obligation would be stated in writing on the license application or renewal form.

It is our position that if a patient is reported by a physician for the sole intent of evaluating the safety of the person's ability to continue to operate a motor vehicle, the physician should be given complete immunity as long as he or she has provided this information in good faith. In general, physicians are not able to accurately assess a patient's ability to drive.

Adopted 6/12/98

Reaffirmed 3/6/06

Guidelines are not a substitute for the experience and judgment of a physician and are developed to enhance the physicians' ability to practice evidence-based medicine.

Important Notice

The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inc. and Foundation (AAO-HNS/F) Policy Statements are guidelines only. In no sense do they represent a standard of care. The applicability of an indicator for a procedure, and/or of the process or outcome criteria, must be determined by the responsible physician in light of all the circumstances presented by the individual patient. Adherence to these guidelines will not ensure successful treatment in every situation. The AAO-HNS emphasizes that these policies should not be deemed inclusive of all proper treatment decisions or methods of care, nor exclusive of other treatment decisions or methods of care reasonably directed to obtaining the same results.