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----- Original Message ----- From: <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Sunday, January 07, 2001 6:17 AM Subject: Re: Using injury data for violence prevention > > These two views are completely contradictory! A compulsory blood alcohol > > assessment system would clearly be State authorised, and our departments > > would then no longer be seen as independent. With this type of system many > > patients would then steer clear of A&E departments leading to the very > > compromise in care that you allude to. As I understand it, any RTA which the Police are aware of (which includes all significant injuries or to which an ambulance has been called) they will automatically request a blood sample. Their breathalysers are not sufficient for bringing a prosecution. The only difficulties are that we usually have to wait until all medical interventions are finished, and occasionally get no chance to perform a sample. I am occasionally in the situation where I have been with an entrapped individual for an hour at the roadside, and then have to turn around and do a sample of blood as a police surgeon. I don't really see it as a conflict - as accident prevention and treatment are all part of the same spectrum. > We are comparing different entities here, individual assaults on the person > and driving while not fit. In the UK we are seen as a confidential source of > assistance and I would not wish to compromise this, however we are already > compelled to provide information regarding motor vehicle accidents on > request. Either the public do not know this or accept it. > > The Australian public hold "drink driving" in a different light to assaults. > They are far less sympathetic to the argument frequently offered here that > the person injured in a vehicle accident "is not fit" for testing. Everybody, > even when not injured, gets blood tested or breathalysed and blood is taken > by nurses and doctors in the health care system rather than by Police > Surgeons (for later testing). Nobody questions this and we were not aware of > anybody staying away or presenting late. The patients were aware that the > State fined the medical carers if a sample was not taken. > > All is not black and white. We need to find some middle ground. > > Darren I agree - after all all information can be requested by the courts - so we are not as independant as we think. I would also be delighted for all blood alcohol examinations to be taken by A&E doctors! Jeremy (PFME Sussex Police)