DOCTORS NOT KEEN TO TEST SUSPECTED DRUNKEN MOTORISTS

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 September 1950, Page 7

DOCTORS NOT KEEN TO TEST SUSPECTED DRUNKEN MOTORISTS

AUCKLAND, Sept. s.—lt was ■ almost impossible to get doctors to come to the police station to examine men suspected of being . intoxicated in charge of vehicles, . a constable claimed in the Police I Court today. He added that often j when they did come it was too | late. Constable E. A. Malcolm was giving ■ evidence against a man who had de-; nied being found intoxicated in charge of a car. The constable said he had telephoned six doctors, but “as usual I could not get one to come.” "Why ‘as usual ?'' asked the magistrate, Mr M. C. Astley. The constable replied that of 50 cases in the last year or so while he was on watch-house duty only in three instances had doctors examined suspects. “I have sat at the 'phone for two hours trying to get a doctor. Some are out, some say they can’t come, and some promise they will be round In half to three-quarters of an hour. When I have rung later they have have said they haven't been able to get away, but they'll be down shortly." The constable added that doctors sometimes arrived two to two and a half hours after being called. “By that time the man has recovered." Sergeant P. B. O’Boyle, giving evidence, said the police had a list of doctors they were most likely to get. On this particular night he called five doctors, but could not get one to come. The magistrate reserved his decision. DOCTORS’ REPLY “Doctors have always been diffident about examining men for intoxication,” said a repi \ entative of the Auckland branch of the British Medical Association, commenting on the claim made in the Police Court today. “It puts the doctor in a bad position because it is bebeved policemen can tell as well as doctors whether a man is too intoxicated to drive a car. There* is also the inevitable time lag to be considered. A man can have recovered by the time a doctor sees him. A doctor looks a fool if he says a man is not intoxicated when the police say he is. Then, if the doctor says the man is intoxicated it alienates the man against the doctor.” The branch had complaints from one or two doctors about this question, and it would be discussed at tomorrow night's meeting.