Driving licence authority ‘should know’ about fits

Readers discuss linking medical and licencing databases. Other topics: Melania's speech, huge debts and obesity risks.

Readers debate the merits of linking medical and licensing authorities’ databases. Courtesy Ajman Police

With regard to your editorial about whether to link the licensing and medical databases (Should doctors alert the RTA? July 20), I don't believe it is the fault of the doctor if a patient with a condition like epilepsy continues to drive.

There is nothing the doctor can do except warn the patient and tell them to be honest and to inform licensing authorities.

The same goes for diabetics.

If the licensing authorities can make a way so they are alerted about these kind of patients via a common database system, I have no doubt they will.

Dr Leila Kazim, Dubai

I agree absolutely that there should be links between the medical and licensing authorities.

Doctors should have no option other than to report this, with them being liable if they fail to do so. It’s all about the duty of care.

Craig Dorrington, Dubai

In the UK, doctors have to report conditions such as this to the DVLA, the authority responsible for driving licences.

However, if that system does not exist here, then I don’t think you can blame the doctors.

Carol Goodey, Abu Dhabi

I believe this would be the right thing to do, but not so much to take driving licences away from

people who have illnesses such as epilepsy as to help them if they have an attack.

Most people do not know what to do when they see a person who has a heart attack or other emergency.

Brigitte von Bulow, Abu Dhabi

Melania offered a compliment

So, a speech given by presidential hopeful Donald Trump's wife Melania has turned out to be a rip-off of a speech given by Michelle Obama years ago (Melania Trump's prime-time debut tarnished by accusations of plagiarism, July 20).

This must have embarrassed the front-runner, with the wife having defended it as her own “with a little help”.

While Mr Trump despises the current president, it is clear that his wife clearly “admires” the first lady. If it was Mr Obama running against the hotelier-turned-politician, maybe it would be a photo-finish?

A R Modak, South Africa

I saw none of Michelle Obama’s vitriolic, militant hatred for the United States in Mrs Trump’s speech.

Melania Trump is an intelligent, educated woman who created her own successful career before she met and married Donald Trump.

Vicki Jones, United States

How can debts grow so large?

In the case you highlighted this week in The Debt Panel: Dubai IT professional earning Dh10,600 has built up almost Dh700,000 in debt (July 20), I think the person involved in this case will eventually serve a prison sentence for payment default and then face deportation.

Maybe the court will need to write off his debt?

Jase White, Dubai

Maybe he could also approach the Central Bank of the UAE. The lack of controls to prevent this kind of indebtedness is horrifying.

George Wilson-Howell, Dubai

This article goes to demonstrate the basics of financial management. I have a lower salary than this person but I am still putting money away for a rainy day.

People should only buy things they need, shouldn’t accumulate debt on credit cards and shouldn’t show off when overseas.

If this guy had a limit of Dh10,000 or Dh12,000 on each of his credit cards, was he spending to the limit on things he needed or on things he wanted?

Imran Khan, Dubai

Banks should protect themselves by minimising the rate of defaults, instead of lending money to greedy or careless people.

Sajjad Rizvi, Saudi Arabia

Obesity is also a factor in risks

With regard to your story, Kinder chocolates 'don't cause cancer', UAE health experts say (July 19), too much refined sugar causes obesity, and obesity is one of the major contributors to cancer and other diseases.

This is not an issue limited to this particular brand: this includes all processed foods filled with refined sugar.

Momen Khaiti, Abu Dhabi

Parents should be more worried about public smoking, which is absolutely a health hazard to children and also to adults. Second hand smoke really does cause cancer.

Carla Botha, Dubai

Let them worry more about sugar and obesity.

Renata Van Rossum, Abu Dhabi