ALCOHOL INTOXICATION (FROM NEW POLICE SURGEON - A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO CLINICAL FORENSIC MEDICINE, 1978, BY H S BURGES AND J E HILTON - SEE NCJ-61742)

• NCJ Number: 61757
• Author(s): S H BURGES; C H JOHNSON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 26 pages
• Corporate Author: Hutchinson Benham Ltd
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: REVISED BY R A A R LAWRENCE

Annotation

CONSIDERATIONS OF THE POLICE SURGEON DEALING WITH CASES OF ALCOHOL INTOXICATION ARE PRESENTED; FORENSIC IMPLICATIONS OF ALCOHOL INTOXICATION, INTOXICATION AND DRIVING, AND CLINICAL EXAMINATION ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

INEVITABLY, THE ANTISOCIAL CONSEQUENCES OF ALCOHOL INTOXICATION PROVOKE LEGAL CONTROL, AND FOR THIS REASON THE POLICE SURGEON SHOULD HAVE A THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL. THE EXAMINER SHOULD KNOW THAT ALCOHOL INTOXICATION MAY COEXIST WITH ANY ILLNESS, INJURY, DRUG INTOXICATION, DEFECT OF REASON, OR INTELLECTUAL DEFECT; IT MAY IMITATE A NUMBER OF CONDITIONS AFFECTING CEREBRAL FUNCTION; AND MAY BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DEMONSTRATE TO A MAGISTRATE OR JURY. ALCOHOL INTOXICATION IS MOST ACCURATELY DETERMINED THROUGH USE OF URINE ALCOHOL LEVEL AND BLOOD LEVEL ANALYSES. ALCOHOL INTOXICATION MAY BE AN OFFENSE ITSELF, SUCH AS DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED; IT MAY BE A COMPONENT OF AN OFFENSE; OR IT MAY BE A MEANS OF PROCURING AN OFFENSE. THE ROAD SAFETY ACT OF 1967 MADE IT AN OFFENSE TO BE DRIVING A MOTOR VEHICLE WITH A BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 80 MG ALCOHOL BY WEIGHT IN 100 ML BLOOD VOLUME OR WITH 107 MG ALCOHOL BY WEIGHT IN 100 ML URINE BY VOLUME. WHEN IMPAIRMENT OF DRIVING ABILITY IS SUSPECTED BECAUSE OF ALCOHOL INTOXICATION, THE POLICE SURGEON MAY BE REQUESTED TO CONDUCT A CLINICAL EXAMINATION. THE SUSPECT'S PERSONAL MEDICAL HISTORY, ESPECIALLY THE POSSIBILITY OF DIABETES OR EPILEPSY SHOULD BE DETERMINED. MEMORY SHOULD BE EVALUATED, FOOD AND DRINK NOTATIONS MADE, AND TIDINESS OR UNTIDINESS OF CLOTHING OBSERVED. SUSPECT DEMEANOR, PULSE RATE, BLOOD PRESSURE, COORDINATION, EYE EVALUATION, BREATH ODOR, URINE AND BLOOD ANALYSES, AND INJURIES SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE EXAMINATION. IF THE SUSPECT REQUIRES TREATMENT WHILE IN CUSTODY, THIS SHOULD BE GIVEN. THE PROCEDURE IN SCOTLAND FOLLOWS THAT USED IN ENGLAND AND WALES WITH MINOR VARIATIONS; OFFENSES INVOLVING ALCOHOL AND DRUGS IN NORTHERN IRELAND ARE EMBODIED IN THE ROAD TRAFFIC ACT OF NORTHERN IRELAND, 1970. (LWM)