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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" citation="COMAR 11.17.03.04" title_num="11" subtitle_num="17" chapter_num="03" heading="Medical Advisory Board Guidelines.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>The Medical Advisory Board shall follow the guidelines set forth in §§B—J of this regulation when making a recommendation to the Administration.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Cardiovascular Impairments.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Contraindications. Contraindications for the safe operation of a motor vehicle under any circumstance may include, but are not limited to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Unstable angina;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Recovering from myocardial infarction of less than 4 weeks duration;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Recovering from open heart surgery within the past 6 weeks;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Recovering from heart transplantation surgery, 6 weeks after discharge;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Placement of a left ventricular assist device discharge;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Severe, uncontrolled congestive heart failure;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Severe, uncontrolled hypertension;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>Cardiac infections not responding to appropriate therapy;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(i)">
        <text>Unoperated critical aortic stenosis or subaortic stenosis;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(j)">
        <text>Unoperated aneurysms of the aorta or cerebrovascular system;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(k)">
        <text>Loss of or impaired consciousness due to, but not limited to, uncontrolled arrhythmias, pacemaker failures, and cardiomyopathy;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(l)">
        <text>A symptom within 6 months after discharge of an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (AICD);</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(m)">
        <text>Any of the following arrhythmias:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Alternating left or right bundle branch block (LBBB or RBBB) second degree AV;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Mobitz II (distal AV block); or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Acquired third degree AV block; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(n)">
        <text>Survivors of sudden death with automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (AICD) devices still discharging at intervals of less than 3 months.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>An individual who has a condition listed in §B(1) of this regulation may be considered for a license by submitting evidence acceptable to the Medical Advisory Board that the condition:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Has been modified, either medically or surgically; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Is well controlled without recurrence or relapse.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Cases shall be evaluated on an individual basis by the Medical Advisory Board in doubtful or unclear circumstances.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Additional or periodic follow-up reports may be required by the Administration for review by the Medical Advisory Board.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Diseases of the Endocrine System.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Diabetes Mellitus. An individual with diabetes mellitus requiring insulin may be reviewed by the Medical Advisory Board.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Hypoglycemia. An individual who suffers from recurrent severe uncontrolled attacks of hypoglycemia may not operate any type of motor vehicle and may not be considered for any class license.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Diseases of the Neuromusculoskeletal System. An individual who has a significant musculoskeletal impairment shall be evaluated by the Medical Advisory Board before being licensed initially or before having the individual's license to operate a motor vehicle renewed.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Diseases of the Nervous System.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Cerebral Hemorrhage, Infarction, or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). An individual who has had a cerebral hemorrhage, infarction, or TBI that has resulted in a marked change in personality, alertness, ability to make decisions, loss of coordination, motor power, visual acuity, visual field, or any other neurological deficit shall be reviewed by the Medical Advisory Board.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Seizures.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The driver's license or driving privilege of an individual with seizures may be suspended or refused for a period of 90 days or more from the date of the last seizure.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>An individual whose driver's license or driving privilege has been suspended or refused under §E(2)(a) of this regulation may request that the period of suspension or refusal be withdrawn or modified by submitting evidence of favorable modifiers acceptable to the Medical Advisory Board.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The Medical Advisory Board shall consider favorable and unfavorable modifiers under §E(2)(e) and (f) of this regulation in determining whether to recommend that the suspension or refusal period be withdrawn or modified to more or less than 90 days.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The withdrawal or reduction or increase of the suspension or refusal period shall be based upon the recommendation of the Medical Advisory Board.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Favorable modifiers include:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Seizures during medically directed medication changes;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Simple partial seizures that do not interfere with consciousness or motor control;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Seizures with consistent and prolonged auras;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Established pattern of pure nocturnal seizures; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>Favorable driving record.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Unfavorable modifiers include:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Noncompliance with medication or medical visits;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Alcohol or drug abuse in the past 3 months;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Unfavorable driving record;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Structural brain lesion;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>Placement of a vagal nerve stimulator to control seizure activity; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vi)">
          <text>Seizure control requiring three or more medications.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Periodic follow-up reports may be required by the Administration for review by the Medical Advisory Board.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>At the conclusion of the suspension or refusal period, the Medical Advisory Board shall reevaluate the individual and recommend appropriate action.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(i)">
        <text>The procedures for the restoration of the driver's license following a period of ineligibility are set forth in COMAR 11.17.04.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Narcolepsy. An individual under treatment for this condition may not be considered for any class of license until the individual has been free of symptoms for at least 6 months and is experiencing no side effects from medications. The individual shall be cleared by the Medical Advisory Board.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Psychiatric Disorders.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Psychopathic Personality. An individual who has a disregard for accepted social values, who has a history of impulsive or irresponsible behavior, and who is frequently rebellious to authority or openly aggressive, with consequent loss of caution and good judgment, may not be considered for any class of license.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Personality, Character, and Psychotic Disorders. An individual with severe symptoms of personality, character, or psychotic disorders shall be evaluated by the Medical Advisory Board for a license on the basis of alertness, social behavior, psychomotor retardation, and side effects from drug therapy.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="H.">
    <text>Substance Use Disorders. In this section, a certified substance abuse treatment program means a program which has been certified by the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration of the Maryland Department of Health.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A severe substance use disorder is characterized by physical or psychological dependence, or both, on certain psychoactive chemical substances, as shown through the continued use of these psychoactive chemical substances despite harmful or adverse circumstances. A mild or moderate substance use disorder involves harmful or hazardous use of substances which can be both licit, for example medication, and illicit. These substances include, but are not limited to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Central nervous system depressants such as alcohol, tranquilizers, and opiates and their derivatives;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Hallucinogens;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Stimulants; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Volatile solvents.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Before being considered for a license, an individual who has been involved in two alcohol-related or other substance-related driving incidents during the past 5 years, or three or more alcohol-related or other substance-related driving incidents in a lifetime, is required to submit satisfactory evidence to the Administration of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Complete abstinence from substance use for 6 months or as determined by the Administration on a case-by-case basis;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Enrollment in, or completion of a substance abuse treatment program for at least 90 days or longer as determined by the Administration on a case-by-case basis; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Participation in a self-help group for a period of time as determined by the Administration on a case-by-case basis.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>As a condition for approval, the Administration may impose certain restrictions, limitations, or other requirements determined to be appropriate to ensure an individual's safe driving of a motor vehicle, including enrollment in an ignition interlock program.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Regardless of the number of incidents, if as the result of investigation, or assessment, an applicant is determined to have alcoholism or a chemical addiction that has not been addressed, the Administration may require evidence of at least 90 days of satisfactory completion of a certified substance abuse treatment program.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="I.">
    <text>An individual who is a paraplegic, quadriplegic, or has the loss of one or more limbs may be required by the Medical Advisory Board to submit to driver's reexamination to determine the individual's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="J.">
    <text>Traumatic Brain Injury. After the review of medical reports submitted by a physician, a rehabilitation facility, or an occupational therapist, the Medical Advisory Board or Administration may require an examination or reexamination consisting of law, vision and driving tests.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>