Colorado § 42-2-112 - Medical advice - use by department - provider immunity - rules.

§ 42-2-112. Medical advice - use by department - provider immunity - rules.

(1) In order to determine whether a licensed driver or an applicant for a driver's license is physically or mentally able to operate a motor vehicle safely upon the highways of this state, the department is authorized, upon the adoption of rules concerning medical criteria for driver licensing, to seek and receive a written medical opinion from any physician, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse, or optometrist licensed in this state. The department may use the written medical opinion in regard to the renewal, suspension, revocation, or cancellation of driver's licenses pursuant to this article 2. The department shall not require a person to obtain a written medical opinion unless the department has reason to believe that the driver or applicant is physically or mentally unable to operate a motor vehicle safely upon the highways of this state.

(2) In addition to the written medical opinion sought and received pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the department may consider a written medical opinion received from the personal physician, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse, or optometrist of an individual driver or applicant. A written medical opinion requested by the applicant or driver from a personal physician, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse, or optometrist must be provided to the department at the expense of the applicant or driver. A written medical opinion required by the department must also be at the expense of the applicant or driver.

(3) A person shall not bring a civil or criminal action against a physician, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse, or optometrist licensed to practice in this state for providing a written medical opinion pursuant to subsection (1) or (2) of this section if the physician, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse, or optometrist acts in good faith and without malice.

(4) A written medical opinion received by the department which relates to an individual applicant or driver is for the confidential use of the department in making decisions on the individual's qualifications as a driver, and the written medical opinion shall not be divulged to any person, except to the applicant or driver, or used in evidence in any trial or proceeding except in matters concerning the individual's qualifications to receive or retain a driver's license.

(5) Written medical opinions received by the department pursuant to this section, in addition to other sources of information, may be used by the department in the adoption of administrative rules concerning medical criteria for driver licensing.

Source: L. 94: Entire title amended with relocations, p. 2122, § 1, effective January 1, 1995. L. 2005: Entire section amended, p. 643, § 6, effective May 27. L. 2016: (1), (2), and (3) amended, (SB 16-158), ch. 204, p. 731, § 25, effective August 10. L. 2025: (1), (2), and (3) amended, (HB 25-1076), ch. 16, p. 64, § 13, effective August 6.

Editor's note: (1) This section is similar to former § 42-2-110.5 as it existed prior to 1994, and the former § 42-2-112 was relocated to § 42-2-114.

(2) Although the amending clause to section 6 of Senate Bill 05-047 stated that all of § 42-2-112 was amended, only subsections (1), (2), and (3) of this section were amended and appeared in the bill.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in SB 16-158, see section 1 of chapter 204, Session Laws of Colorado 2016.

ANNOTATION

Law reviews. For article, "1986 Colorado Tort Reform Legislation", see 15 Colo. Law. 1363 (1986). For article, "Advocating for Senior Drivers And Their Families", see 34 Colo. Law. 63 (Oct. 2005).