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Indexing Title : JAVALEZA`s Medical Anecdotal Report ( 05-1)
MAR Title: “The Thing Speaks for Itself”
Date of Medical Observation: May 2005
NARRATION
During our team’s 24 hours tour of duty, at around 1o clock in the morning, a group of patients came in for medico-legal consult. Upon examining one of the patient, together with the other party involve in a vehicular accident. I tried to get as close as possible to smell for scent of alcohol, which I did. Upon issuing the certificate, the patient was dismayed on the findings. He started complaining at the top of his voice, that he did not take even a drop of alcohol. With his wife and other companion, testifying that the patient was at home the whole night. They kept arguing for several minutes trying to make change me my findings. I tried to calm them down but they insist on changing their patient certificate. Afterward, it comes out that they already have a medico-legal certificate from another hospital. Then they were told to use that certificate.
INSIGHT (Physical, Psychosocial, Ethical)(Discovery, Stimulus, Reinforcements)
As doctors, we are obliged to examine individuals caught by law officers. Not only to document physical injuries, but also to evaluate if the said individual is under the influence of alcohol. This is later used against them in the court as evidence. Are we violating the patient constitutional right against self-incrimination? According to legal medicine, such examinations are reasonable after a lawful arrest. It does not violate the patient right of self incrimination. However, most of our hospital does not have such examination. In determining whether such patient are intoxicated or not. Our report depend only on physical examination. Which are uncomfortable and risk the examiner from acquiring communicable disease. A screening test for blood alcohol will minimize argument with these kind of patients, eliminate discomfort in examination and limit risk of acquiring some communicable diseases. Or better yet a quantitative test for definite determination of alcohol intoxication.