Vic,
The decline in RTA deaths over the past few decades has been due to
preventative measures e.g. seat belts, drink driving laws etc. "Doctoring"
has only had a minor effect (15%), although important if you are that
individual.. Therefore we must all take an interest in the "bigger" picture
if society is to further reduce RTA deaths. Prevention is better than cure.
Ray McGlone
A&E Lancaster
----- Original Message -----
From: "Victor Calland" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, July 15, 2002 11:49 PM
Subject: Drugs and Road Accidents
Message text written by Accident and Emergency Academic List
>I was called into the hospital recently to deal with casualties from a
road traffic accident. No fatalities thankfully, but 4 out of the 6(!) in
the car had serious injuries. The usual problem of alcohol and people not
wearing seatbelts. On this occasion I managed to find out that they had
also been on ecstasy and smoking cannabis that night. The driver had no
recollection of the accident due to the combination of drugs taken.
The police will prosecute because the individual failed the alcohol
test.... but and this is the reason I am moved to write. It is very likely
that the Police would not have taken this further if the driver had not
failed the alcohol test. In short other drugs are usually not considered by
the police even though they may have been contributary to the road
"accident". The Police don't have a simple test that they routinely use for
other drugs.
The problem with cannabis is that it's half life is 57 hours so can be
detected in the body for a long time. Cannabis has caused road accidents
but there seems no mechanism for the Police to target this.<
Ray, you are a Doctor, not a Police Officer. You should leave it to them
and treat the injured without getting outraged.
Vic Calland
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