title: [Evaluating the applicability of medical examinations constituting "the protocol of obtaining a blood sample" in measuring the degree of intoxication].
abstract: Breathalysing and blood analysis is the basic instrument of measuring the level of intoxication. Prior to collecting a blood sample, an individual suspected of being under the influence of alcohol is examined by a physician, who fills out the "protocol of obtaining a blood sample". This work aims at evaluating the applicability of the described examination in measuring the level of intoxication. In order to do so, our team analyzed 352 "protocols of obtaining blood sample" referred to the Forensic Laboratory KWP in Bydgoszcz, Poland, and compared them with the results of blood analysis. The results of the above analysis point to the fact that the elements of medical examination constituting "the protocol of obtaining a blood sample" are of a minor usefulness in determining the degree of intoxication with ethyl alcohol. The smell from the mouth and the conclusions formulated the examining physician prove to be the most useful. The summary usage of deviations from the norm does not seem to increase the usefulness of methods used within "the protocol of obtaining a blood sample" in evaluating the degree of intoxication.
authors.affiliation: Z Katedry i Zaktadu Medycyny Sadowej Uniwersytetu Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu, Collegium Medicum im. Ludwika Rydygiera w Bydgoszczy. piotr.e@vp.pl
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Engelgardt
authors.forename: Weronika
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Grzech
authors.forename: Jarosław
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drzewiecki
authors.forename: Karol
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sliwka
mesh_terms: D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011044:Poland; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol