Monday, November 2, 2009
Drunken Blood Test
People believe that if the police are going to require DWI suspects to give a blood test when showing signs of intoxication, it should be done by a trained medical worker not a police officer. Also people would like Austin City Council to approve a resolution that prohibits officers from collecting blood samples. Also they would like Austin City Council to support a compromise offered by Police Chief Art Acevedo that they will raise money to hire trained medical workers. Chief Acevedo stated that until they can hire a medical technician that staff from Seton and university medical center Brakenridge will draw blood from DWI suspects. In recent months Acevedo wanted his men to be trained in collecting samples from DWI suspects during the no refusal operation. No refusal operations are used more on holidays because that is when drunken driving soars. It is legal for an officer to ask for a blood sample when a suspect denies to give a breath sample. Drawing blood from suspects without their consent however, has shown controversy because its a invasive procedure that comes with risk. Council member Bill Spelmen says "This scares me", to Acevedos efforts to have his officers trained to draw blood he also asks very valid questions such as, "what is doing to happen in this interaction? ", "will officers be more likely to be assaulted when an arrest is made? ", and "what happens when an officer pulls out a needle and the citizen reacts? ". Spelmen also points out that if drawing blood is done by a trained medical staff that people are less likely to freak out.
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This somewhat recent policy of drawing blood upon the refusal of the breathalyzer test is downright scary. While I don't think I'll ever find myself in this situation, I don't like the thought of a cop with a needle coming towards me. I don't care how much training the officers are given, as even trained medical professionals (perhaps amateurs is more appropriate if they can't draw blood correctly) can mess something like that up and that is with a sober and calm person presumably. I know I'd be a lot more calm in that situation if someone in scrubs was doing the blood drawing. But hey look at it this way... if the officers get assaulted trying to draw blood via needle, they can just beat the crap out of the drunk and get it that way.
ReplyDeleteGiving blood test to DWI suspects on the spot
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with my classmates blog on Law enforcement giving blood test to people who are suspected for drinking and driving. Chief Acevedo Said that the city of Austin would raise money to hire trained medical workers from hospitals to draw blood and to get his men trained to take blood test on the spot during the holidays where there is a no refusal operation in effect when a person refuses to give a breath sample. It's hard enough to give a lot of sober people a blood test much less trying to give a drunk person one. For one it's not only harder to get a drunk person to cooperate it's also really dangerous for the law enforcement who could get hurt trying to get a needle into someone who is fighting back. Council member Bill Spelmen is right when he says it is scary to try and give a blood test on the spot to a drunk person. A lot of people hate needles how will they take it when a police officer takes a needle to try arm instead of trained medical staff. This is risky business Chief Acevedo is looking into.
A lot of people including myself wouldn't feel safe if a police officer would give them a blood test on the spot where the roads and surrounding areas are really dirty it's not hygienic. Plus they don't have the experience as a person who does it all the time in a clean environment.