Concern about blood samples

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32848, 23 February 1972, Page 2

Concern about blood samples

(from Out Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, February 22.

Some hospital boards in New Zealand are worried about the taking of blood samples from persons injured in road accidents.

Under legislation passed by Parliament late last year—the Transport Amencment (No. 2) Act—blood samples may. be taken from accident victims so that police can analyse their alcohol content. Many hospital boards have accepted the legislation with enthusiasm, but a few have been reticent. Early next month a pamphlet will be sent to all boards, explaining the standard procedure for taking blood alcohol tests from accident victims. Before the Ministry of Transport had the pamphlet printed, it sent letters to the hospital boards asking Tor their suggestions on procedure in taking the tests.

The boards* replies were taken into account when the final procedure was laid down.

The boards did not seem to be worried about the medical problems of the blood tests. The doubts expressed were more of. an ethical nature.

There has always been the fear that a technical assault could be committed by the taking of a sample from a patient who did not consent, but the legislation overcame this problem by specifically freeing medical staff from any possible charges. The pamphlet will lay this out more clearly. Another source of some slight hesitancy was the thought in some boards that more staff would have to be put on, so that doctors could take. the samples. The pamphlet will explain to the boards that a sister, a nurse, or even a laboratory technician can take the samples, as they Would do in the normal course of their duties.

It appears that the pamphlet will overcome many of the minor worries of the boards, and the Ministry of Transport seems to hope that once the system has been in use a little longer the remaining worries about the tests will also subside.