Son-in-law refuses to stop driving after having seizures

Dear Abby: My son-inlaw was diagnosed with epilepsy 25 years ago. He has two or three seizures a year. He has seen a neurologist on and off, but he has not been to the doctor for several years. He works in the medical field and gets meds from doctors he works with.

He recently had a seizure after dropping one of his children off. Fortunately, the child wasn’t in the car when he wrecked it. My question is, how involved should I be? Should I confront him? Did I mention he refuses to stop driving?

I’m extremely concerned about the well-being of my daughter, four grandchildren and the lives of others on the roads. Do I have a right to be involved? — Frightened In

The South

Dear Frightened: Your son-in-law should not be taking medications from doctors who are not intimately involved with his care. If the accident didn’t serve as a wakeup call, it should have.

Consider contacting your auto insurance company and asking what can be done about an epileptic motorist who is prone to seizures. If you can’t find guidance there, the state police where your son-in-law lives might be interested.

Dear Abby: Over the last several years I have learned the value of counseling, which helped me deal with years of undiagnosed depression. I overcame my preconceived notions about therapy, and I’m happier now than I have ever been.

One of my relatives has mentioned several times that she has a very strained relationship with her mom.

On Mother’s Day, I saw several social media posts from people celebrating their mothers. My relative posted something along the lines of, “My goal in life is to be a better mother than mine was” and some other things about her disdain for her mother.

When I saw the post, my heart ached for her mom, but my heart ached for my relative even more. It seems she carries so much hurt in her heart, and I wonder if she could benefit from therapy, but I don’t know how to suggest it. I am afraid of hurting

Dear Helping: Approach it by telling your relative you saw her post and were struck by the pain she must be feeling to have put something like that online for all the world to see. Explain about the baggage that therapy helped you to overcome in your own life and what a difference it has made for you. Then offer her your therapist’s phone number.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother,Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069 or visit