Doctors’ national duty of notification

In Finland doctors are always required to notify a licence holder’s impaired state of health to the police if the driver is determined to be unfit to drive for at least six months. Regarding pilots, doctors working in general healthcare do not have any comparable duty of notification to the Finnish licensing authority. In Norway the duty of notification has been in effect since 1982 and it applies to all health care professionals. According to Norwegian experiences it has been beneficial to flight safety. Such regulations also clarify the role of the doctor treating the person and improve the exchange of information among the health care authorities and those assessing medical certification.

The Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications standardise the duty of notification between aviation and road transport, associated with a person’s state of health, as part of advancing the safety of flight.

In Finland doctors are always required to notify a licence holder’s impaired state of health to the police if the driver is determined to be unfit to drive for at least six months. Regarding pilots, doctors working in general healthcare do not have any comparable duty of notification to the Finnish licensing authority. In Norway the duty of notification has been in effect since 1982 and it applies to all health care professionals. According to Norwegian experiences it has been beneficial to flight safety. Such regulations also clarify the role of the doctor treating the person and improve the exchange of information among the health care authorities and those assessing medical certification.