Drink driving ban

[swee'pea99]

They test anyone involved in any way nowadays - and probably check over the vehicle too.

Hmmm. How long have they been doing that?

Seems to me out of keeping with basic principles of civil liberties (not that that surprises me in the least, given the way things have gone in that sort of arena in this country over the last decade or so) - an analogy being the way police are (or at least were - what the current situation is, I've no idea) required to have a specific and specified object in mind when applying for search warrants. In other words, they weren't allowed to go on so-called 'fishing expeditions'.

Seems to me that in justice, in order to be subjected to any kind of a drink test, there ought to be a requirement that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that you have committed an offense. 'Having been crashed into' does not seem to me to constitute any such grounds.

I stress, I'm not saying you're wrong - far from it, I'm sure you're right. It just seems to me yet another example of the way 'they' have been quietly salami-slicing our basic freedoms away while we were looking in the other direction.

 

[PaulB]

Apparently they told the woman that breath-testing was compulsory if they were called out. Saying that, earlier this year, my wife had a much worse crash than the nurse yesterday (no-one hurt though) and the police came and told her straight they would not breath test her and this was early evening. Then again, that was in Manchester and yesterday's incident was in Lancashire so two different forces.

 

[meenaghman]

breath freshner and Mouthwash can cause Breathalyser readings to be false. There are some interesting things in the "interfering compounds" here..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breathalyzer#Interfering_compounds

 

[marinyork]

breath freshner and Mouthwash can cause Breathalyser readings to be false. There are some interesting things in the "interfering compounds" here..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breathalyzer#Interfering_compounds

Which is why they should wait 20 minutes.

 

[addictfreak]

As far as im aware it 20 minutes after your last alcoholic drink ( or is it 30 mins)

 

[Velorum]

The Nurse can always apply for a position that doesnt involve driving so may not be 'lost' as a scarce resource. (Provided that the offence doesnt effect her Registration - which I think is unlikely unless the police have made an NMC notification that calls in to question her fitness to practice)

 

[PaulB]

The Nurse can always apply for a position that doesnt involve driving so may not be 'lost' as a scarce resource. (Provided that the offence doesnt effect her Registration - which I think is unlikely unless the police have made an NMC notification that calls in to question her fitness to practice)

That's what would concern me. I would have thought she could go back onto a ward or another area where driving isn't required but I'm not certain the offence won't affect her registration. I don't think nurses can be struck off for this but I'm not 100% sure. Then again, if it's right that they're looking for a 10% cut, who knows?

 

[Velorum]

That's what would concern me. I would have thought she could go back onto a ward or another area where driving isn't required but I'm not certain the offence won't affect her registration. I don't think nurses can be struck off for this but I'm not 100% sure.

The offence itself would not lead to an automatic suspension or striking off - but if a case was brought that either demonstated that the Nurse was not safe to practice due to alcohol abuse or her behaviour had brough the profession into disrepute then this could happen.

Over the years I have known of a number of nurses that have been banned for drink driving and continued to hold their registrations. The only ones that I can recall having beeing suspended or struck off are ones that have been caught being drunk on duty.

 

[PaulB]

The only ones that I can recall having beeing suspended or struck off are ones that have been caught being drunk on duty.

Technically of course, she was.

 

[Velorum]

Technically of course, she was.

In which case her empoyer is legaly bound to inform the NMC. The NMC will ask them for their opinion of whether she is safe to practice - if there is sufficiuent evidence to suggest that she could be an immediate danger to patients then they could impose an immediate interim suspension of registration.

Regardless of whether she is suspended immediately or not it is highly likely that he would then need to appear before a 'fitness to practice' hearing.

Engaging in any illegal activity is a very risky thing for a nurse to do as regards being able to practice their profession. The latest NMC journal states that referrals to the fitness to practice panel are increasing.

 

[marinyork]

In which case her empoyer is legaly bound to inform the NMC. The NMC will ask them for their opinion of whether she is safe to practice - if there is sufficiuent evidence to suggest that she could be an immediate danger to patients then they could impose an immediate interim suspension of registration.

Regardless of whether she is suspended immediately or not it is highly likely that he would then need to appear before a 'fitness to practice' hearing.

Which is surely, as I've said it is in the person's interest to get tested to see whether she has a medical condition that produces alcohol in fair quantities, as is rarely reported? Let alone for the driving side, which is less important.

 

[PaulB]

In which case her empoyer is legaly bound to inform the NMC. The NMC will ask them for their opinion of whether she is safe to practice - if there is sufficiuent evidence to suggest that she could be an immediate danger to patients then they could impose an immediate interim suspension of registration.

Regardless of whether she is suspended immediately or not it is highly likely that he would then need to appear before a 'fitness to practice' hearing.

All the other nurses in the office where she works were stunned at this as they were working with her all yesterday morning and had no inkling or suspicions she was in any way drunk. She's never had an issue with drink, never had a verbal or any other warning and this is completely out of character. They've all said they'll vouch for her as far as they can go.

 

[User482]

Even if she has a problem processing alcohol, I'm struggling to believe that she would be twice the limit 17 hours after 2 glasses of wine. As has been suggested, she may have a problem. Getting caught before anyone got hurt might not be the worst outcome in the world.

 

[Velorum]

Which is surely, as I've said it is in the person's interest to get tested to see whether she has a medical condition that produces alcohol in fair quantities, as is rarely reported? Let alone for the driving side, which is less important.

Indeed. If I was in her position I would be being proactive in exploring every avenue. I would also be engaging the services of a legal rep that specialises in NMC matters.

 

[gavintc]

I think she is lying. That amount of alcohol in your blood is significant. Alcoholics have a tendency to 'forget' how much they are drinking. I am afraid that my sympathy level is zero - another potential killer removed from the roads - good riddance.