Can Fire Department Paramedics Draw Blood for DUI Investigations?

Can fire department paramedics do a DUI blood test?

No, and below we explain why.

There are two main chemical tests to determine the amount of alcohol in a driver for evidence in drunk driving cases.

They’re a breath alcohol test or a blood alcohol chemical analysis.

The arresting police officer usually makes that decision unless a driver refuses a breath test, in which case they’ll get a blood draw.

Are you facing DUI charges? Did a paramedic draw your blood in the course of a DUI investigation? Request a free consultation now.

They’d rather choose to conduct the breath test, since it’s easier and quicker for the officer to administer.

It’s done at the police station on a breath alcohol instrument called a DataMaster DMT.

When the driver refuses the breath test, the officer will attempt to get a warrant to draw the driver’s blood.

Unreliable Blood Draw

Most people think a blood test for alcohol is more accurate than a breath test.

Generally, a blood test is a better test to determine the amount of alcohol in a person only if the DUI blood test is conducted properly, preserved properly, delivered to the lab promptly, and analyzed strictly pursuant to applicable protocols and procedures.

As Michigan’s only Forensic-Scientist as certified by the American Chemical Society (ACS), our team has education and experience in attacking each one of these issues.

An issue that often comes up is the unreliable paramedic blood draw.

The Law Clearly States Who May or May Not Draw Blood

Michigan law states clearly that only a doctor, or an experienced person designated by that doctor, may draw blood for evidence of a DUI.

The law also clearly states that the person must be regularly supervised and trained by that doctor to ensure the individual knows what they’re doing and doing it correctly.

Police officers hate to go the local hospital for the blood draw, because it requires them to leave the comfort of their police headquarters.

Depending on how busy it is, there may be a wait.

It’s the last thing they want to do.

To save the officer time, many cities have changed their policy and call in the local fire department paramedics to the police station and perform the blood draw there.

The goal for them is to save time, but what does that mean about the reliability of obtaining a blood sample?

Paramedics Are Not Trained in Blood Draws

City fire department paramedics are trained in life saving and emergency medical services.

Blood draws are not their typical assignment. Further, they don’t work directly for or under the supervision of a doctor.

Their supervisor is the fire department chief, who isn’t a licensed physician.

There’s no one there to ensure they receive the training, continued education and supervision to ensure they’re performing the blood draw properly, as the statute requires. Further, they’re performing these blood draws at the police station, which is far from the sanitary conditions of a hospital. Even the back of an ambulance cannot compare.

Paramedic Blood Draws Happening Regularly In Surrounding Cities

This is a local practice now in the cities of Birmingham, City of Rochester, Troy, and other cities. There are several more. These cities are sacrificing the integrity and reliability of a very important blood draw which will be used as evidence in a DUI prosecution, for the sake of expediency and convenience. Justice should never surrender to convenience.

Local city attorneys and prosecutors have been getting away with this stunt by saying there is another doctor that regularly supervises the paramedics but that claim has not been proven to be true. Fire department paramedics aren’t qualified by law or properly supervised by a physician to perform evidentiary blood draws.

So to be clear, no, paramedics can not do a DUI blood test.

Facing DUI charges? Did a paramedic draw your blood in the course of a DUI investigation? Request a free consultation now.

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