Non-inquest findings into the death of Ms D (Coroner’s Court Brisbane 16 April 2021), available on the Queensland Courts website, saw the Coroner called upon to consider assessment of fitness to drive in a person with insulin dependant diabetes.
The Coroner held that Ms D died following a motor vehicle collission and the Coroner found that the cause of the collision, on the balance of probabilities was Ms D suffering a hypoglycaemic episode while driving, causing her to lose consciousness while driving.
The Coroner commented:
I could find no evidence of discussions about safety to drive in the notes of the attending GP or the attending endocrinologist. This is concerning as the endocrinologist has previously complete paperwork to the effect that Ms D was unfit or potentially unsafe to work due to her diabetes, and yet driving does not appear to have been discussed.
The Coroner appears to have been in favour of identifying an independent clinical service to assess drivers. This is apparently undertaken in the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine by Forensic Physicians.