[Are physicians' examinations required for driving licences correct?]

73 consecutive medical certificates for granting driving licenses were examined. The certificates were given on standard forms with yes/no tick boxes. They were used by the Norwegian Board of Health in handling appeals against rejected applications for exemption from the health requirements for driving licenses. Two of the 73 certificates contained incorrect statements about the applicants' medical conditions. A further two were incomplete with regard to medical facts known to the issuing physician, whereas the remaining 69 certificates gave correct information about the health of the applicant. The conclusion as to whether the applicant fulfilled the health requirements was correctly stated in 30 certificates (41%). 22 certificates (30%) wrongly concluded that the requirements were met, and 21 (29%) lacked a conclusion. The health requirements are printed on the certificate form along with a note to remind the physician to adhere to them. We conclude that even in official medical certificates with yes/no tick boxes, physicians may be reluctant to give conclusions they understand will not benefit their patients.