This week on the Inside EMS podcast, hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson dig into a hot-button issue lighting up EMS forums: DUI blood draws by paramedics. In Vanderburgh County, Indiana, a new program lets fire department medics perform evidentiary blood draws at the request of law enforcement — right on scene, even if the suspect isn’t being transported. Supporters say it’s efficient; critics say it’s unethical.
The hosts share their own history with blood draws in the field and reflect on how their professional philosophies have evolved.
It’s a passionate, no-holds-barred conversation about legal gray zones, moral boundaries, patient advocacy, operational burdens and the blurry line between healthcare and law enforcement.
Spoiler: There’s no easy answer. But if your agency is considering such a program, this episode is required listening.
Memorable quotes
- “My job is to do medical care, period, end of file. Quite often in doing my job, I make the point, ‘Hey, I’m not a cop, man. You can trust me.’”
- “There’s a moral dilemma there. Are we caregivers or are we evidence collectors?”
- “Even if the laws permitted me to do so for one reason and one reason only, it’s very hard to shift from a caregiver mindset to a defensive mindset.”
EMS DUI blood draws in the field: Join the conversation
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