Epileptic disease and fitness for specific jobs involving driving motor vehicles

• Published in: Medicina del lavoro Vol. 94; no. 4; p. 343
• Main Authors: Di Lorenzo, L, Troccoli, G, Catanesi, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Italian
• Published: Italy 01.07.2003
• Subjects: Adult; Anticonvulsants - therapeutic use; Automobile Driving - legislation & jurisprudence; Automobile Driving - standards; Electroencephalography; Epilepsy - drug therapy; Humans; Italy; Male; Motor Vehicles; Psychomotor Performance; Work Capacity Evaluation; Italy
• ISSN: 0025-7818

Analysis of the problems the occupational health physician meets in health surveillance of workers with a clinical history of epilepsy, in order to assess fitness for specific jobs requiring driving of motor vehicles. A health protocol was used which required acquisition of all information related to job features, work organization, past and current clinical-functional status of epilepsy and any treatment in progress. The cases of four workers with clinical history of epilepsy were examined who were judged to be representative both of the most frequent forms of epileptic disease and of jobs requiring driving of motor vehicles. Application of the chosen health protocol allowed us to make balanced assessments of fitness for the different specific jobs performed by the four workers. With the use of this protocol it was possible to protect the health and the safety of both the workers concerned and their fellow workers and also, as far as possible, to respect the occupational competence of such workers. We also addressed the problems related to anti-epileptic drug consumption and in itinere road accidents. Lastly, the different medical-legal aspects of the problem were further investigated, analysing national and international legislation with respect to epilepsy and fitness for driving motor vehicles.