Richard J. Emhof DUI/DWI Law Blog on Lawyers.com

Central Pennsylvania Hospitals No Longer Willing to Test Blood Samples for DUI Cases

Friday, November 13, 2009 by Richard J. Emhof

WellSpan affiliated hospitals’ public relations manager has announced that their hospitals in south central PA will not be testing blood samples for the police in DUI cases any more.

The reason given is that (1) the testing process requires the labs to be equipped in such a way that jeopardizes the labs’ accreditation by the American College of Pathologists, and (2) the litigation involving the samples causes attorneys to make requests of the hospital with which it simply cannot comply. According to the Gettysburg Times:

“Regarding accreditation", WellSpan’s Public Relations Manager said, "In our case, the hospital laboratory is unable to meet a new testing regulation introduced by the College of American Pathologists. They generate standards and they are our primary accreditation agency. If we were to lose accreditation by not adhering to their regulations, we’d really jeopardize the lab’s primary role of providing health care to our patients. In addition, the legal system, particularly DUI defense attorneys, are demanding more and more from laboratories that conduct BAC testing.”.

Police in the area are expected to begin sending blood samples out to separate labs for testing via parcel post.

Pennsylvania DUI Attorney Richard Emhof handles DUI matters throughout Pennsylvania. If you have been arrested for a DUI in Pennsylvania, time is of the essence to ensure your rights are protected. Contact us today online or by phone toll free at 1-866-457-9957 for a free initial consultation.

Posted at 16:01 PM
Topic: DUI/DWI
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