Bengaluru: If doctor epileptic, he shouldn't be behind wheels, say experts

Bengaluru: An orthopaedic doctor, who wreaked havoc in the city on Sunday by ramming his Mercedez Benz car into several vehicles at three different spots at a stretch of 3 km, has sparked stern responses from neurosurgeons across the city as he has claimed that he lost control of the car as he had an epileptic seizure while driving it.

“There are different types of seizures. If it was a case of complex partial seizure then it might be possible for the doctor to drive," says Dr Arvind Bhateja, Spine and Neurosurgeon at Sita Bhateja Hospital.

“These seizures usually start in a small area of the temporal lobe or frontal lobe of the brain. They quickly involve other areas of the brain that affect alertness and awareness.

“Epileptic seizures can vary from a brief and nearly undetectable attack to long periods of vigorous shaking. Often they result in physical injuries.

“It is an episodic phenomenon and the person is otherwise absolutely normal. Suddenly, the brain neurons will start firing and the person will go into severe fits. Only very few people know that they might have a seizure. Otherwise, it occurs suddenly,” explains Dr Vikram Huded, Consultant, interventional Neurologist and Stroke Specialist, Narayana Health City.

The most important point raised by the experts was that if he was a known epileptic then he should not be behind the wheels. “According to Indian law, if you are a known epileptic you cannot drive, swim or go near fire," says Dr Vikram.