Drunk Drivers and Medical and Social Injury

Abstract

Alcohol-related traffic injuries are a major cause of death, pain, and suffering and a major contributor to health care costs in the United States. We reviewed the medical and legal consequences of 252 motor vehicle accidents involving drivers admitted to St. Mary's Hospital between 1981 and 1985, with particular attention to patients with a blood alcohol concentration equal to or above the legally defined threshold for intoxication (100 mg per deciliter). There were 84 such patients, with a median blood alcohol level of 218.5 mg per deciliter. Few of these patients were referred either to alcoholism-rehabilitation programs or to the courts for prosecution. We conclude that both drunk drivers and the population at large are poorly served by current medical and legal practices. Because denial of reality and prevarication are hallmarks of alcoholism, we make two recommendations. First, in order to encourage physicians to refer all injured patients with high blood alcohol concentrations to detoxification and rehabilitation programs, injury to intoxicated drivers should be made a reportable condition. Second, prosecution for driving under the influence of alcohol should be made easier by simplifying the procedures for providing the courts with blood alcohol measurements obtained as part of normal clinical care. Physicians must act in the interest of their patients. The two recommended changes in current practice would help provide a firm framework within which physicians could advise patients about appropriate treatment for alcoholism. If such steps are not taken or are ineffective, vigorous legal action should be encouraged, because society has the right to demand that innocent people not be endangered by intoxicated people who drive motor vehicles.

The epidemiology of head injury in Cantabria

“…When the analysis was restricted exclusively to head injury, the rates increased to 47%. Similar findings have been reported by other authors (4,9,19). This factor is even more relevant in countries in which, as happens in Spain, the prevalence of alcohol consumption is very high and generalized during the week (7).…”

Characteristics and conviction rates of injured alcohol-impaired drivers admitted to a tertiary care Canadian Trauma Centre

“…4,5 In spite of these laws, studies over the past 30 yr have shown that the rate of conviction of injured alcohol-impaired drivers (IAIDs) may be very low due to system problems with the process of detection and enforcement of impaired driving, ranging from a failure to detect such drivers, lack of coordination and communication between the medical and law enforcement teams, or insufficient resource allocation for proper follow-up of IAIDs. [6][7][8][9][10] We observed, clinically, that many of our severely injured patients were intoxicated at the time of injury and that frequently these individuals are drivers of motor vehicles. Although it is commonly believed by the medical community and the public, that Canadian laws and penalties against driving while impaired (DWI) are severe, we suspected that individuals who are guilty of DWI may escape legal consequences if they suffer injury.…”

“…10 Mandatory testing of all injured drivers is inherently rational given the immense burden of injury inflicted by such behaviour. Unfortunately, at this time, the impaired driver, especially the alcohol-impaired one remains common, and continues to place society at risk.…”

Judicial Outcome for the Intoxicated Driver Admitted to a Regional Trauma Center

“…Data that dramatize the loss of life and health due to these intoxicated drivers along with the medical, social, and employment-related costs of these injuries will also encourage social solutions to this problem . 4 Intervention programs for intoxicated drivers that incorporate seizure of property, stiff fines, and other novel approaches also need evaluation.…”