If you’re about to undergo surgery or a type of medical procedure, you should understand how sedation for this treatment is a factor once you’re discharged. Many people wonder about the legality of driving post-anesthesia in Texas and whether or not they can safely drive home from the facility.
Most doctors will tell you that you cannot drive. Some won’t let you leave without someone to take you home. Angel Reyes & Associates is a personal injury law firm committed to providing 5-star service for injured victims in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and throughout Texas. In this informative blog, we provide guidelines on operating machinery such as a motor vehicle after having any type of surgery that requires sedation.
Anesthesia and Driving Restrictions in Texas
Driving after anesthesia laws in Texas do not make it explicitly illegal to drive after anesthesia. However, it’s highly recommended that you do not operate heavy machinery or drive for a certain period afterward. The potential side effects such as slow reflexes and impaired judgment.
The type and dosage of your sedation, your medical history, and your overall health can all affect the length of time to wait before driving. You should abide by what your doctor tells you.
Understanding Types of Anesthesia and How They Can Affect Your Drive Home
The type of anesthesia that you receive will also play a role in how many hours you should wait before using heavy machinery or driving. Many factors will go into determining the type of sedatives the anesthesiologist will administer.
Local anesthesia involves numbing a small area while regional anesthesia involves numbing a larger portion of the body. General anesthesia is reserved for major surgeries as it renders one completely unconscious, and monitored anesthesia care (MAC) involves deeper sedation while some responsiveness is maintained.
Local Anesthetic
If you’re having a minor procedure such as a tooth extraction or having a small-sized legion removed from your skin, you’ll typically be given local anesthesia.
- Regional Anesthetic: Regional anesthetic is usually given for any surgeries performed on limbs or for relieving the pain of childbirth.
- General Anesthesia: General anesthesia renders a patient completely unconscious, which is vital for more complicated surgeries.
- Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC): Moderate sedation is provided through an IV, which still allows patients to respond to commands while being relaxed and unable to feel pain. This monitored type of sedation is ideal for minor surgeries and procedures.
The doctor and anesthesiologist will discuss the best type of anesthesia for your procedure and your needs. It’s also possible to combine these types of sedation for your procedure.
Post-Operative Transportation Options
Patients should not drive themselves home after having been anesthetized as this can pose a risk to themselves and others on the road. Your doctor should give you a list of instructions to follow about 24 hours before your surgery and help you know what to expect.
Have a Responsible Adult Drive
Patients should arrange for a responsible adult, such as a family member or friend, to give them a ride home from the surgery center or hospital. In many hospitals and treatment facilities, nurses will not permit a patient to be discharged until their ride arrives.
Hire a Car Service or Call a Rideshare
If no family member or friend is available, patients can hire a car service, a non-emergency medical transportation service, or a rideshare app such as Uber or Lyft.
Use Transportation Provided Through Surgery Centers
Some centers may offer transportation services or recommendations for local transportation providers to their patients following surgery. They may also issue a driving test under their supervision to see if you’re back to your normal faculties and capable of returning to your normal activities after the procedure.
Safety Considerations
Anesthesia can impair your normal faculties, impeding cognitive function, reaction time, and judgment. This makes it unsafe for any person to drive for a certain period, in some cases up to 24 hours, after receiving anesthesia.
Patients may experience an array of side effects in the 24 hours following the treatment such as drowsiness, dizziness, and nausea. Just like any medication, it can hinder the ability of a patient to drive safely.
Your procedure may leave you feeling sore as well along with the after-effects of sedation for your surgery. You should be aware of the potential risks of driving while under these influences. You could lose consciousness while driving and get into an accident, or the pain you feel as the medication wears off could make it difficult for you to do the typical maneuvers you make while driving such as turning the steering wheel, shifting gears, or turning to look at your blind spots.
Driving while under the influence of anesthesia would also be viewed as driving while intoxicated with alcohol by law enforcement. You may wind up being arrested for DWI and have a tarnished criminal record. You’d also likely incur fines, potentially spend time in jail, and have your driver’s license suspended.
It’s always best to adhere to the recovery period for proper patient care as specified by your doctor or surgeon. Sedatives and other types of medicine that you’re provided can easily compromise your safety as well as everyone else’s on the road if you get behind the wheel. Before your surgery, speak to the medical professional at the health facility and follow the guidelines they advise.
Planning Ahead
Before undergoing any kind of surgery, patients should pre-register and discuss their transportation plans with their doctor. The doctor and anesthesiologist will determine the best course of action and provide advice based on their decision.
Your healthcare provider should be informed of your medical history, including any medications you’re taking. Every patient should be honest about these medications for the safest practices. You’ll likely be issued pain management prescriptions to help you feel comfortable during your recovery. Make sure that you abide by what your doctor advises and follow the directions for these prescriptions.
What to Do If You Get into an Accident After a Medical Procedure
If you recently had surgery and you get into an accident, you must know what to do. Since most health treatment centers will not allow the patients they treat to leave without a safe ride, an accident may arise at some point in your recovery.
It’s vital that you take any medication you’re provided as directed and that you do not drive if the prescription will cause drowsiness. However, even if you did not drive while taking them, you could still be blamed, and you will want to protect your best interests. Additionally, you may have been a passenger in a vehicle that was hit by a negligent driver, further aggravating your surgery site or former injuries. Make sure you contact Angel Reyes & Associates to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your legal options.
