Replacing a driver's license in Kirov can lead to a mental hospital

After the publication of our colleagues from the Federal MK that the residents of Kirov years later learn at the medical board about the alleged mental disorders they have when trying to obtain rights and receive a referral for a paid medical examination in a hospital, other residents of the regional center began to apply to the editorial office, faced with a similar problem.

Let's take a brief history. A 26-year-old resident of Kirov said that she first learned about a psychiatric diagnosis at a medical board to obtain a driver's license. At the Center for Psychiatry and Mental Health on Mayskaya Street, she was told that she allegedly had mixed personality disorder in 2020. The girl claims that she was not registered and was not treated in the profile hospital. The reception, according to her, lasted about five minutes, after which she was offered a monthly examination in a round-the-clock hospital for 40 thousand rubles. Guarantees for a review of the diagnosis were not given, a free alternative was not offered, and the conclusions of the psychotherapist for the past three years were refused. Under threat was the exam in the traffic police, scheduled for November 28.

After the publication of the editorial office of MK in Kirov, other similar cases became known. The man, who works as a sales manager, underwent a medical examination to replace his driver's license, who had expired 10-year term. At the reception, the psychiatrist drew attention to the traces of trauma, which he received in his youth. After that, the man spent 30 years driving, underwent medical examinations, and there were no doubts about his mental health among doctors. He also never applied for psychiatric help, he was not registered. But the psychiatrist refused to sign the certificate, sending it to the commission. Despite the positive characteristics from the place of work and from the district, the man was sent to the hospital, putting a two-week examination a prerequisite for obtaining a driver's certificate.

“I need a car for work. During the time of going through all these instances and two weeks in the hospital, I will lose about 100,000 rubles, which no one will compensate me. Another young man from Kirov was suspected of mental disorders due to a tattoo on his face, which also served as a reason for referral for examination.

At the same time, patients who have already undergone examination at the Bekhterev Center for Psychiatry and Mental Health say that the regime for healthy people who got there for a certificate is worse than the prison regime: there are no dates, they are not allowed to go for walks, they are not allowed to smoke, phones are selected and given out for 30 minutes a day.

The incident with the 26-year-old Kirov citizen did not go unnoticed and caused a wave of publications in the federal and regional media. The regional Ministry of Health did not comment on a specific case, citing medical secrecy, but explained in the media the procedure for psychiatric examination.

A psychiatrist has the right to take into account information about previously established diagnoses from medical records, including records of other organizations. In case of reasonable doubts in the state of health of the patient can be sent for additional examination. In difficult cases, when it is difficult to understand the clinical picture on an outpatient basis, a person can be sent to a psychiatric hospital for an expert diagnostic evaluation necessary to decide on the issue of admission to driving. Such examination shall be completed no later than 30 days from the start.

The department also explained that mandatory medical examination of candidates for drivers is carried out at their expense. Free inpatient care is provided in the presence of medical indications for treatment, including the deterioration of mental state. Diagnostic examination to clarify the diagnosis within the framework of a paid medical examination is not included in the state task.