This year, more than a hundred complaints were reported about the mandatory psychiatric examination for people with autism who want to get a driving license. The Health Council advised the cabinet this week that the quality of this medical examination must be improved.
The Dutch Autism Association received 112 complaints in four months, said the NVA director at the KRO-NCRV research program. Pointer on NPO Radio 1.
“Do you still have autism?”
People diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who apply for a driver’s license are required to be examined by a psychiatrist and take an additional driving test. According to the Health Council, this involves about 7,000 people annually. The council concluded that some of them experience the test as insufficient. The experts endorse this Pointer has spoken.
“Even before I could sit down, he asked: So, do you still have autism? Apparently there are still professionals who do not know that autism cannot go away at all,” says Myrthe about her experience with the CBR psychiatrist. “I found that very annoying because this man decides about my future.”
Setting quality requirements
The Health Council “strongly recommends“In order to introduce a standardized method and a fixed rate. According to the committee of inquiry, quality requirements must also be set for the examining psychiatrists.” This can help improve the quality of the examinations and gives the examinated more certainty and clarity. “
The CBR late Pointer in a response they know that they have no influence on the quality of the medical examinations. The responsibility for this lies with the Health and Youth Care Inspectorate. They do, however, welcome initiatives to improve the quality of the inspections.
End of mandatory driving test
Incidentally, the council advises to abolish the mandatory driving test for people with ASD. This driving skills test is only necessary if the psychiatric examination gives cause to do so, according to the advisory body. Because scientific research shows that ASD can have both a negative and positive effect on someone’s driving skills.
Outgoing minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen informed the House of Representatives this week that he would adopt the Health Council’s advice.
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