Cognitive Impairment and Dangerous Driving: A Decision Making Model for the Psychologist to Balance Confidentiality with Safety

Abstract

The Transitional Opportunity Partnership (TOP) is a framework for psychological care of cognitively impaired individuals. In this paper we address the issues associated with cognitively impaired drivers and how the TOP model can assist psychologists in managing the ethical, legal, and moral dilemmas that often occur with this challenging population. This paper offers suggestions for how to therapeutically manage the privilege of driving with cognitively impaired individuals, through client education, increasing awareness of client resistance or incapacity to recognize impairment, and proactive intervention. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract)