Jayzus! Didn't see this coming,how do the victims' families get over this decision:...
I couldn’t accept that, he had numerous texts saying his sugar was low. He shouldn’t have kept driving. I was at that exact place the week before and feel so sorry for those people. Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
Hmm a bus driver consciously agreed he'd had too many meds and gets a 33 year sentence,a diabetic consciously did NOT take his meds and is turned free.......
That’s not how it works. He is a type 1 Diabetic and would be on insulin. He had a hypoglycaemic episode because he did not have enough to eat to balance the amount of insulin injected. After 30 years of injecting himself he should have recognised a hypo was on its way and taken action eg a handful of jelly beans. Problem is he reached the point where the glucose level dropped enough to basically make his brain stop working…
I don’t think anyone can really make that judgement. There are many things that can screw up the insulin management of diabetes and cause a hypo. Eg running around and subsequently exercising more than usual. Should patients with poorly managed type 1 diabetes have a driving licence? I’d say no
So you know all the facts? I’m not defending him but I think it’s more complicated than just “guilty”. And in the case of your schizophrenic example, they would not be found guilty of a criminal act as a result of their mental health and nor should they ffs.
A friend has a wearable bluetooth glucose monitor that will send alerts to your mobile phone, eg https://www.freestylelibre.com.au/ . They don't cost much and he certainly could have afforded something like this. Bottom line is he could have done a better job in managing his (long term) condition, but he didn't and as a result killed a bunch of innocent people.
Yes, the majority of type 1 diabetics diagnosed these days have those. All I’m saying is that it’s not all that simple. The following is in the press re this case “About half an hour before the crash, he tried to get a seat at a deli but was turned away as it was too busy, the court was told His blood sugar levels plummeted from 7.8 to 2.9 within about two hours. Following the crash, a paramedic found Swale was below 1.1, which the court heard meant he was close to going into a coma or dying.” So on the face of it, he knew his BSL was dropping and tried to do something about it but it dropped rapidly and he became acutely confused. If you have ever experienced anyone having a hypoglycaemic attack you would understand that it happens very quickly and they become completely incapacitated. I’ll say it again, it’s not that simple
The fact that he stopped the car and walked into a cafe' (fair enuff we don't,possibly,know why but can only presume that he wanted a sugar hit) shows that he was aware at that point that he was in strife.IMO He should have taken the key out of his car at that point. He had a great counsel and the prosecution did not...obviously.
Yes, exactly, sounds like he was aware but he missed his window of opportunity to get his BSL up and then it was all too late
He's a long term diabetic, he should have kept a bag of jellybeans in the glove box for just such a situation. It's not like he didn't know what could happen. It's his responsibilty, and no one elses, to manage his condition. He didn't, and 5 people are dead.
It's already a thing. Type 1 Diabetics require a medical report before they can apply for a license. If their condition is poorly controlled it would be incumbent on the treating Endocrinologist/GP to advise they should not obtain a license. I don't know whether the court looked into this blokes medical history but if he was having repeated hypos then the medicos looking after him should have notified the RTA Here: https://austroads.com.au/publications/assessing-fitness-to-drive/ap-g56/diabetes-mellitus/medical-standards-for-licensing-2
