Fitness-to-drive rules in the spotlight after patient’s car crash death following GP appointment
Agostino Di Clemente's daughter was on her way to pick him up to take him to hospital when he got in his van and left the clinic.
A coroner has raised fresh concerns about fitness-to-drive rules after an 82-year-old crashed his van into a tree after leaving a GP clinic in a confused state.
Agostino Di Clemente, known as Gus, had been diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s disease by a geriatrician in early 2024, the Coroners Court of Victoria heard.
While the geriatrician had no immediate concerns, he noted that he had advised Mr Di Clemente “about his obligations to self-report diagnosis of dementia” to Transport Victoria as a condition that could potentially affect his driving.
Three weeks later, Mr Di Clemente drove himself to his usual GP practice.
